Somali National Mahad Mohamud Deported from Minneapolis Amid Controversial Asylum Case
Mahad Mohamud, a 36-year-old Somali national known as Garyaqaan, has been deported from Minneapolis to Mogadishu following his detention by ICE and a denied asylum claim. Mohamud, who built a TikTok following of about 500,000 followers by defending clan interests, was detained in May and spent six months in Kandiyohi County jail—three months awaiting an asylum decision and three months awaiting deportation.
His asylum request was partly based on threats from the militant group al-Shabab. However, authorities rejected his claim and he was deported via a route through Costa Rica, Senegal, and Nairobi before arriving in Mogadishu. During the flight, he was restrained in a jacket and traveled alongside seven other deportees on a small plane.
In Minneapolis, the Somali community numbers around 80,000 and has experienced alarm amid criticism from former President Trump towards Somali immigrants. Somalia lacks a strong central government, and al-Shabab continues to be active, contributing to insecurity.
Upon return to Mogadishu, Mohamud has been reunited with his three children after a decade but remains fearful for his safety, taking extra security measures. BBC interviews with other deported Somalis reveal hardships faced upon return, including a man who spent approximately $20,000 to reach the US and now confronts limited opportunities in Somalia.
Mohamud was also subject to accusations from a White House–linked Rapid Response 47 account alleging he kidnapped a French official, a claim reportedly cleared by the FBI.
