Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed has stirred debate with bold remarks about her role in supporting undocumented immigrants. In recent statements, she declared: “Our responsibility is to help make life less difficult for undocumented immigrants. They lack access to basic needs, and I understand their struggles personally.”
Mohamed, a Democrat representing Minneapolis, positioned her remarks within ongoing battles over immigration policy in Minnesota. Her words come amid legislative proposals that would strip undocumented residents of access to state-funded services like MinnesotaCare and free tuition under the North Star Promise program. Critics argue such measures would withdraw essential support from some of the state’s most vulnerable communities.
In defending her stance, Mohamed framed her role not as a partisan tool but as a moral imperative. She has often emphasized that many undocumented people in Minnesota contribute to local economies through labor and taxes, yet remain shut out of basic social safety nets. “It’s political theater, honestly. It’s for them to send a message about immigrants, and I think it’s wrong,” she has said in response to anti-immigrant bills.
Some opponents have criticized her language as too sympathetic—or politically charged—for someone in public office. They argue that by openly aligning with undocumented communities, Mohamed is signaling priorities that favor noncitizens over citizens. Yet her supporters see this as a necessary counterbalance to proposals she views as punitive and discriminatory.
The context for Mohamed’s statements is an intensifying fight in Minnesota’s legislature. Republican lawmakers have introduced bills aimed at revoking benefits for undocumented residents—a move Mohamed calls part of a broader “cruelty agenda.” Her caucus has countered by defending access to healthcare and education, pushing back against what they view as attacks on immigrant communities.
Mohamed’s personal background adds weight to her public messaging. Born in Somalia and raised in Minnesota, she has spoken about her own family’s immigrant journey and the hardships they endured navigating bureaucracies, housing, and education. Her lived experience, she argues, gives her empathy and insight into the struggles faced by many undocumented residents in the state.
Beyond rhetoric, Mohamed has also backed tangible policy initiatives. She was a co-sponsor of a sweeping tenant protection law that extended rights to undocumented renters and allowed landlords to accept individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) instead of Social Security numbers. Additionally, she has opposed efforts to remove undocumented Minnesotans from MinnesotaCare, arguing that such actions would have dire health consequences.
Observers suggest that Mohamed’s strategy is not purely altruistic. In a state with shifting demographics, her vocal support for immigrant communities may help her consolidate backing among communities of color, young voters, and advocates pushing for progressive governance. Yet it also risks alienating more moderate or conservative constituents who favor stricter immigration controls.
As the legislative session progresses, the clash over immigrant benefits in Minnesota seems poised to intensify. Mohamed’s outspoken comments reflect a broader moral and political divide: whether a state should prioritize inclusion and safety nets or restrict services to citizens and legal residents only. In voicing that “we understand their struggles,” Mohamed has placed herself firmly in the camp of advocates calling for a more empathetic and inclusive Minnesota.
