‘Somalia Is Dangerous’: Former US Deportees Face Fear and Uncertainty Amid Deportation Plans

Sajid Raza March 14, 2025

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Mukhtar Abdiwhab Ahmed, who lived in the US as a refugee, was deported back to Somalia in 2018 [Mohamed Gabobe/Al Jazeera]

Here’s a rephrased version for the morningislam.com news blog:

Former US deportees from Somalia are voicing concerns over fears and uncertainty as the Trump administration announces plans to deport more Somali migrants, raising serious safety worries.

Mogadishu, Somalia – Mukhtar Abdiwhab Ahmed sits outside his home in Mogadishu, shaded by the scorching sun, reflecting on his life since being deported from the United States. The 39-year-old expresses regret over his past decisions, saying, “If I knew I’d end up here, I’d never have gotten these tattoos,” explaining that he now wears long sleeves to avoid negative attention from locals.

Mukhtar spent much of his life in the US but has struggled to readjust to Somalia’s conservative society since his deportation in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency.

With Trump’s return to office, the administration has announced plans to deport more migrants deemed to be in the US “illegally,” including over 4,000 Somalis like Mukhtar. Lawyers, activists, and previous deportees warn that this move risks lives, citing Somalia’s instability, insecurity, and lack of opportunities as major concerns.

The US government itself warns its citizens against traveling to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and piracy, where armed group al-Shabab regularly carries out attacks.

A Difficult Past and Uncertain Future

Mukhtar’s family fled Somalia after the government collapse in 1991, first seeking refuge in Kenya before Mukhtar and his brother made it to the US in 1995, settling in Seattle, Washington. The challenges of poverty and crime in Seattle led Mukhtar into legal troubles, including felony charges for theft and armed robbery, which eventually led to his deportation.

In 2007, despite knowing Somalia was in conflict, Mukhtar signed deportation documents, only to find himself back in prison after an arrest in 2015. ICE detained him again, and in December 2017, Mukhtar was among 92 Somalis deported on a flight marred by reports of abuse, with deportees shackled and mistreated during the journey.

In March 2018, Mukhtar was deported alongside 120 migrants, including Somalis, Kenyans, and Sudanese. ICE agents abandoned the deportees in Nairobi, citing Somalia’s danger as the reason for not accompanying them to Mogadishu.

Mukhtar, left, and fellow deportee from the US, Anwar Mohamed, try to readjust to life in Mogadishu [Mohamed Gabobe/Al Jazeera]

Somalia’s Danger and Deportation Risks

Former deportee Anwar Mohamed, who also returned to Somalia in 2018, criticized the US government’s decision to send people to Somalia while considering it too dangerous for ICE agents. The US State Department currently advises against all travel to Somalia due to terrorism and crime, yet the Trump administration aims to deport 4,090 Somalis this year.

Marc Prokosch, an immigration lawyer in Minnesota, warns, “The Trump administration is endangering lives by deporting people to places like Somalia,” stressing the moral and legal responsibilities of the US.

Human Rights Watch also cautions that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protecting Somalis from deportation may not be renewed under Trump’s administration, increasing fears among Somali migrants in the US.

Struggling to Adapt

Returning deportees like Mukhtar and Anwar face immense challenges adjusting to Somalia’s harsh realities. Anwar recounts his traumatic childhood experiences and his struggle to rebuild his life in Somalia after spending years in the US. Despite efforts to lead a normal life, including marriage and working as a rickshaw driver, hostility from locals makes integration difficult.

Anwar reflects, “This wasn’t my choice. It was forced upon me the day I arrived in chains.”