Becoming Minnesotan: Somali Feed

Becoming Minnesotan

Somalia has had a turbulent history through much of its history, and the political situation spiraled out of control in 1991 when the central government fell apart. As rebel factions began fighting to gain control all over the country, it became very dangerous for common people to live in the midst of the fighting. Starting in 1992, the U.S. began issuing refugee visas to thousands of Somalis. Many of them settled in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and many more moved here from other parts of the U.S. Today, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., estimated to be over 60,000 in 2010.