Rep. Tom Emmer’s warning that immigrants must come here to be Americans has set off a fierce fight over assimilation, race, and basic civic order.
Quick Take
- Emmer said immigrants who come to the United States must understand they are here “to be an American.”
- He also said there is “nothing racist” about calling out criminal behavior.
- His remarks drew sharp backlash from Democrats, activists, and major media outlets.
- Emmer’s old praise for Somali immigrants now clashes with his current attack.
What Emmer Said at the Town Hall
At a Faith and Freedom Coalition town hall, Emmer told the crowd that he did not care where people came from if they came to America ready to become Americans. He also said, “There is nothing racist about calling out a criminal,” and framed the United States as a Christian-based nation. His words were blunt, and they put assimilation back at the center of the immigration fight.
Emmer also said he celebrates other cultures, naming Italian, Polish, and Somali heritage. But he turned fast from praise to criticism, saying Somali immigrants do not assimilate and should go back if they will not accept American life. That is the core of the uproar. The message landed as a demand for loyalty to the country, not a discussion about policy details or practical reform.
Why the Backlash Spread So Fast
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar answered first and hardest, saying she “assimilated all the way to Congress” and rejecting Emmer’s broad attack on Somali immigrants. Representative Angie Craig also called the comments racist. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota said the remarks were hurtful and unacceptable. Major outlets and commentators quickly repeated the same framing, which pushed the story deeper into partisan territory.
That backlash matters because Emmer did not offer a clear standard for assimilation. He did not define what he means by it, and he did not give data, names, or cases to support claims about crime or separate institutions. He said Somali immigrants do not assimilate, but he offered no measurable test. Without that, the argument rests more on attitude than proof, which leaves room for critics to call it reckless.
Emmer’s Past Record Complicates the New Message
Emmer’s current tone is harder to square with his past. He once praised Somali immigrants in a Saint Cloud town hall, calling them among the “fastest assimilating populations” the country had seen. He also co-founded the Somalia Caucus in Congress and later described Somalia as a matter of domestic policy and national security. Those facts do not erase his current comments, but they do show a sharp change in posture.
Hmph. Well, this is awkward. 2026 Rep. Tom Emmer Somali immigrants "don't assimilate" and "should go the hell back to where they came from"
2015 Tom Emmer praised the Somali community, stating they were "some of the fastest-assimilating populations" the country had ever seen. https://t.co/9evEY9tMUj pic.twitter.com/h7hGW7fyif
— Fly Sistah 🪷 (@Fly_Sistah) June 29, 2026
That shift gives critics an opening, and it gives supporters a talking point. Supporters can say Emmer is finally saying out loud what many voters believe: America needs immigrants who join the nation, learn the language, and respect its laws. Critics can point to his past praise and say his current attack is selective and aimed at a specific group. Both readings are now part of the same public fight.
Assimilation Is Still the Real Debate
The larger issue is not just one politician’s language. It is the old American argument over whether the country should expect newcomers to blend into a common civic culture. Conservative thinkers and immigration researchers alike have long said assimilation matters for national unity, language, work, and public trust. Research also shows immigrants generally integrate over time, which means the debate is not whether assimilation happens, but how much the country should expect and demand it.
That tension explains why Emmer’s remarks hit so hard. His supporters hear a defense of American identity and common standards. His critics hear a smear aimed at Somali Minnesotans and a cheap shot at a minority community. What is clear from the record is that Emmer chose a hard line, his opponents answered in kind, and the country was left with the same unresolved question: how should America ask newcomers to join the American project?
Sources:
youtube.com, facebook.com, fox9.com, instagram.com, yahoo.com, knsiradio.com, startribune.com, migrationpolicy.org, socialsci.libretexts.org, colorincolorado.org, tandfonline.com, jstor.org, ebsco.com, siepr.stanford.edu, digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu