US President Donald Trump has said he does not want Somali immigrants in the US, telling reporters they should "go back to where they came from" and "their country is no good for a reason".
"I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you," he said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Trump said the US would "go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country".
His disparaging comments came as immigration authorities were reported to be planning an enforcement operation in Minnesota's large Somali community.
Officials in the state have condemned the plan, arguing it could unfairly sweep up American citizens who may appear to be from the East African nation.
Minneapolis and St Paul, which together are known as the Twin Cities, are home to one of the largest Somali communities in the world and the largest in the US.
