People don’t think of Minnesota as a destination spot for Muslim immigrants–and with good reason. Why would any sane person from an equatorial/desert region, as most Minnesota Muslims are, come to a region known for its Siberia-like climate?
There is a reason: money. And lots of it. Minnesota has long prided itself as a haven for refugees, and the largest population of Somalis outside of Somalia lives in Minnesota.
There is a part of Minneapolis we call “Little Mogadishu” both because of the large concentration of Somali refugees and because it is about as lawless as Mogadishu. It is not quite the “no-go” zone you find in European cities, but it is a good place to avoid if you don’t belong there.
Somalis and Muslims, in general, have become a significant political force in Minnesota, which explains why Ilhan Omar can easily walk away with her primary and general elections. As…
