Somali immigrant Abdulkadir Chirambo has been in Pennsylvania for over 20 years. He first came to Erie in 2004, following time at a refugee camp in Kenya. His family — like many in Somalia — fled a civil war when he was too young to remember. Now, he lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and 12 children. The Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh estimates there are 800 to 1,000 Somali people living in Pittsburgh, the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens, according to the organization, with some on green cards or still going through the process to obtain one. But with the Somali community under scrutiny on the national stage, Pittsburgh Somalis like Chirambo feel targeted. “All of Trump’s administration, racism been there,” Chirambo said. President Donald Trump made pointed comments about Somalis in the U.S. last week, specifically about those in Minnesota. Dozens in Minnesota’s Somali diaspora have been charged after allegedly stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the government, diverting funds meant to feed low-income children during the pandemic. Citing those reports of fraud, Trump called Somalis “garbage” last week, saying they have “destroyed our country” and they “should be out of here.”“The Somali people are not garbage. They are thriving people. They went through a lot, they a war, and still moving forward,” Aweys Mwaliya, founder and president of the Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh, said. “When it comes to defrauding taxpayers’ money, the people who did this … They need to be arrested. Illegal things should never be accepted. But to justify racism against a whole people and to say, ‘Oh, all these people are just like this,’ that is absolutely wrong.”In 2017, Chirambo founded the Mwanakuche Community Garden on the North Side to grow a mix of plants native to both East Africa and Pennsylvania. They give the vegetables grown to the surrounding North Side neighbors. But the garden is about much more than farming – it provides a place for the local Somali community to pass on their language and history to the next generation. The garden also serves as a statement for Pittsburgh Somalis: They are proud to be part of the Pittsburgh community and to contribute to it. “When we harvest the food, it also brings the surrounding community together. Not only just us as Somalis, but us as neighbors,” Chirambo said. Even with decades of establishment and community building, recent moves from the Trump administration are striking fear into Pittsburgh’s Somali people.In addition to his recent rhetoric, Trump has called for the end of temporary protected status for Somali refugees in Minnesota, as well as the nationwide reexamination of Somali green card holders. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations reportedly targeting Somali immigrants are also underway.The result here in Pittsburgh: Those trying to go through the proper legal channels to obtain a green card or citizenship are scared. “People are afraid even to really apply and go to an ICE office to get their green card,” Mwaliya said. “Those are the fears that the community … can’t talk about right now.”A population that had to flee a crisis in search of a new home, Mwaliya says his community had hoped Pittsburgh would be their final destination, but some wonder if they are now unwelcome – especially members of older generations.“They are the ones that are kind of constantly living in fear when it comes to whatever is going on today when it comes to refugees, immigrants, even those U.S. citizens but who came here as refugees,” Mwaliya said.With fear and uncertainty about the future looming, Somalis who are proud to call themselves Pittsburghers hope they can continue to grow here.“This feels home,” Chirambo said, sporting a Pittsburgh Penguins hat and standing in the greenhouse of his community garden. “We want to give back and show that we’re not just here. We’re also part of this community and giving to the community ourselves.”

PITTSBURGH —

Somali immigrant Abdulkadir Chirambo has been in Pennsylvania for over 20 years. He first came to Erie in 2004, following time at a refugee camp in Kenya. His family — like many in Somalia — fled a civil war when he was too young to remember.

Now, he lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and 12 children.

The Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh estimates there are 800 to 1,000 Somali people living in Pittsburgh, the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens, according to the organization, with some on green cards or still going through the process to obtain one.

But with the Somali community under scrutiny on the national stage, Pittsburgh Somalis like Chirambo feel targeted.

“All of Trump’s administration, racism [has] been there,” Chirambo said.

President Donald Trump made pointed comments about Somalis in the U.S. last week, specifically about those in Minnesota. Dozens in Minnesota’s Somali diaspora have been charged after allegedly stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the government, diverting funds meant to feed low-income children during the pandemic.

Citing those reports of fraud, Trump called Somalis “garbage” last week, saying they have “destroyed our country” and they “should be out of here.”

“The Somali people are not garbage. They are thriving people. They went through a lot, they [survived] a war, and [they’re] still moving forward,” Aweys Mwaliya, founder and president of the Somali Bantu Community Association of Pittsburgh, said. “When it comes to defrauding taxpayers’ money, the people who did this … They need to be arrested. Illegal things should never be accepted. But to justify racism against a whole people and to say, ‘Oh, all these people are just like this,’ that is absolutely wrong.”

In 2017, Chirambo founded the Mwanakuche Community Garden on the North Side to grow a mix of plants native to both East Africa and Pennsylvania. They give the vegetables grown to the surrounding North Side neighbors.

But the garden is about much more than farming – it provides a place for the local Somali community to pass on their language and history to the next generation.

The garden also serves as a statement for Pittsburgh Somalis: They are proud to be part of the Pittsburgh community and to contribute to it.

“When we harvest the food, it also brings the surrounding community together. Not only just us as Somalis, but us as neighbors,” Chirambo said.

Even with decades of establishment and community building, recent moves from the Trump administration are striking fear into Pittsburgh’s Somali people.

In addition to his recent rhetoric, Trump has called for the end of temporary protected status for Somali refugees in Minnesota, as well as the nationwide reexamination of Somali green card holders. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations reportedly targeting Somali immigrants are also underway.

The result here in Pittsburgh: Those trying to go through the proper legal channels to obtain a green card or citizenship are scared.

“People are afraid even to really apply and go to an ICE office to get their green card,” Mwaliya said. “Those are the fears that the community … can’t talk about right now.”

A population that had to flee a crisis in search of a new home, Mwaliya says his community had hoped Pittsburgh would be their final destination, but some wonder if they are now unwelcome – especially members of older generations.

“They are the ones that are kind of constantly living in fear when it comes to whatever is going on today when it comes to refugees, immigrants, even those [who are] U.S. citizens but who came here as refugees,” Mwaliya said.

With fear and uncertainty about the future looming, Somalis who are proud to call themselves Pittsburghers hope they can continue to grow here.

“This feels [like] home,” Chirambo said, sporting a Pittsburgh Penguins hat and standing in the greenhouse of his community garden. “We want to give back and show that we’re not just here. We’re also part of this community and giving to the community ourselves.”