To the Editor:
Let this sink in!
Statistics regarding the percentage of Somalis on welfare typically refer to specific regions or demographics within the United States, as national, generalized data by specific origin group can be limited. Studies often focus on areas with large Somali populations, such as Minnesota.
Key findings from sources analyzing U.S. Census data and reports by organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) indicate high rates of welfare use among Somali immigrants and refugees:
Overall Households: Over 80% of Somali immigrant households overall received some form of welfare benefits in analyses of past data.
Households with Children: Nearly 90% of Somali households with children in Minnesota were reported to receive welfare benefits.
Specific Programs:
Medicaid: Nearly three-quarters (73%) received Medicaid.
Food Stamps (SNAP): 54% received food stamps, with other reports citing figures around 42% for those receiving SNAP benefits.
Long-Term Residents: Even among households that had been in the U.S. for over 10 years, 78% were receiving welfare, compared to only 21% of native-born households in the same studies.
These statistics often reflect the circumstances under which many Somalis arrived in the U.S.—fleeing civil war and with minimum education or capacity to adopt immediately, often arriving as refugees. The data highlights significant socioeconomic challenges, with over two-thirds of Somali immigrant adults living in or near poverty, as do over 80% of Somali immigrant children.
Is this how our immigration policies should work?
Mark Rodgers
Village of Shady Brook