MINNEAPOIS – Muslim communities in Minnesota, along with others across the United States and Canada, are on edge following the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that left multiple people dead and authorities investigating the attack as a possible hate crime. The tragedy has renewed concerns among mosque leaders about rising anti-Muslim threats and violence targeting Islamic institutions nationwide.

The heightened concern comes as Muslim families and mosques are preparing for Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant holidays in Islam, which is expected to begin next week on May 27, 2026. The holiday traditionally brings large gatherings for prayers, celebrations, and community events, prompting many Islamic centers to reassess security measures ahead of the festivities.

In Minnesota, several mosques and Islamic centers are reviewing security protocols, increasing precautions, and strengthening coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Muslim leaders say the San Diego attack has intensified fears within a community that has already experienced years of threats, vandalism, arson attempts, and harassment directed at mosques and worshippers.

According to the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Minnesota has led the nation in reported incidents targeting mosques in recent years. CAIR data documented 15 anti-mosque incidents in 2024 alone, including threats, vandalism, break-ins, and arson attacks. The organization says more than 40 incidents targeting mosques have been reported statewide over the past three years, causing millions of dollars in damages.

Federal prosecutors recently secured a prison sentence against a man convicted of setting fires at two Minnesota mosques in 2023 — the Masjid Omar Islamic Center and the Masjid Al-Rahma Mosque — in attacks that authorities described as crimes against religious freedom.

Local Muslim leaders in Minneapolis said discussions about mosque security had already been underway before the San Diego shooting. Minneapolis imams and community leaders met with Minneapolis Police Department Chief Brian O’Hara on Tuesday to discuss safety measures, emergency response coordination, and continued communication between law enforcement and Islamic institutions.

Community leaders emphasized that the meetings with MPD leadership are part of an ongoing effort that began prior to the California attack, as concerns over hate crimes and extremist threats have steadily grown in recent years.

“We want our congregations to feel safe while practicing their faith,” one local imam said following the meeting. “The goal is prevention, preparedness, and partnership with law enforcement while maintaining openness in our communities.”

The San Diego shooting has prompted renewed calls from Muslim advocacy organizations for increased federal and local support to protect houses of worship and address the rise in religiously motivated violence across North America.

Saint Paul (Tuesday, March 10, 2026) – Ramsey County is offering temporary tax relief to help many residents impacted by the federal government’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign known as Operation Metro Surge. It’s one of many steps the county has taken since the operation began this winter.  

When county commissioners voted on Feb. 3 to condemn the tactics used by federal agents, they also directed County Manager Ling Becker to establish a structured and coordinated response to federal immigration enforcement. Since then, Becker has mobilized county staff to coordinate an array of initiatives to help people in the county impacted by the federal actions.  

“While Operation Metro Surge may be winding down, its impacts have not,” Becker said. “Our most vulnerable residents continue to feel the greatest impact. With direction from the county board, we’ve taken a range of actions to support residents and businesses during this difficult time, and we remain committed to doing what we can to help our community recover.” 

Temporary property tax relief  

Metro Surge contributed to financial hardships by disrupting work and decreasing local business revenue. To address this strain, the county is implementing a temporary two-month property tax payment extension for first half 2026 property tax payments. Eligible property owners can pay their property taxes up to two months past the typical deadline without facing late payment penalties.  

More information is available on the county’s property tax resources webpage.  

Addressing health concerns 

Along with disrupting families, fears of federal agents have heighted anxiety in communities. Parents have withdrawn children from schools and have decreased public activities. The isolation has put people at an increased risk of depression, which is compounded when the affected people are less likely to leave home to seek care.  

Ramsey County already has mental health and crisis service that’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the county is allocating $75,000 to the Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative. This one-time funding will help strengthen access to mental health and basic needs supports during a time of increased referrals, prolonged service waitlists and heightened community stress.  

Other actions 

• The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, working with local law enforcement, posted online guidance for residents who are witnesses to or victims of criminal conduct by federal law enforcement agents.  

• Clear protocols are in place for county employees who may need to interact with immigration enforcement agents at county owned or leased sites. Also, a new training was created to help employees understand how to navigate an encounter with immigration enforcement officials while working in the field 

• A Connect to Services webpage that can be translated into multiple languages is now online to help residents connect with services and resources, such as food and emergency assistance programs. Printed information, also in multiple languages, was distributed through county programs, local food shelves, the city of Saint Paul (libraries and parks), and Saint Paul Public Schools. 

• Signage has been posted at parks and county facilities clarifying that staging or operations are not permitted without authorization. “Employee only” signage designates non-public areas that cannot be accessed without a valid judicial warrant. 

• The county expanded support to employees through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), hosted sessions on stress management and psychological safety and launched a new EAP mobile app. Additional expanded supports are in the works. 

Watch the presentation to commissioners at March 10 board meeting.  

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More than six decades after one of the most defining moments of the American civil rights movement, Somali American Minnesotans joined thousands of others in Selma to commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge.

For many in the Somali community who traveled more than a thousand miles from Minneapolis, the journey was more than a trip, it was a powerful act of solidarity and remembrance. Somali leaders, community members, youth, and families gathered to walk the same bridge where civil rights activists were brutally attacked in 1965 while demanding the right to vote.

The trip left a deep impression on participants

“This was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had,” said Hodan Hassan, a former Minnesota state representative and community leader. “Standing on that bridge reminds us of the courage it took to demand justice—and why that fight must continue.”

This year’s commemoration of Selma came after months of immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting Minnesotans, including members of the Somali American community. Against that backdrop, the presence of Somali American leaders and community members at the event underscored the enduring connection between past and present struggles for civil rights. Even 61 years later, participants reflected on how many of the same issues remain unresolved — the right to vote, the right to belong, and the right to live with dignity.

Hassan also expressed gratitude to the organizations that helped make the journey possible, including Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Somali American Coalition, COPAL, Ayada Leads, and the Immigrant Defense Network, along with many other groups that worked together to bring communities together in solidarity and purpose.

The long bus ride from Minnesota to Alabama—stretching across more than a thousand miles—was not easy. Yet traveling together strengthened the sense of community among those making the journey.

“Traveling by bus with the community makes the journey meaningful and memorable,” Hassan noted. “Even if the ride itself can be a bit brutal.”

Still, participants said every mile was worth it

The commemoration served as a reminder that the legacy of Selma is not only history—it is a living call to action. As communities across the country continue to advocate for justice and equality, the spirit of those who marched in 1965 remains a guiding force.

And for the Somali American Minnesotans who made the journey south, the message was clear: the struggle continues, but no one stands alone. Moving forward together—across generations, communities, and thousands of miles—remains the most powerful way to honor Selma’s legacy.

Photos credit: Hodan Hassan