Farrah Mohamed, a 22-year-old Minnesota resident, went from playing basketball on the courts of his Cedar-Riverside neighborhood to appearing in federal court on drug-related charges. 

Mohamed was born and raised in Cedar-Riverside, a neighborhood with a large Somali population, and he found solace on the basketball courts. However, after surviving a shooting incident when he was 16, Mohamed found himself drawn to criminal activity, as economic opportunities were scarce and quick money was alluring.

“I used to play basketball in a Somali neighborhood, but after getting shot, I transitioned to selling drugs because it was an easy move in my rough neighborhood,” he said.

Across the United States, Somali communities face a multitude of challenges, including language barriers, cultural disparities, and limited access to resources. These obstacles, compounded by poverty, trauma and a lack of educational opportunities, significantly impact Somali youth. 

As Solami youth confront these challenges, community organizations have been attempting to address these issues in part by fostering connections between parents, youth and the justice system.

Minneapolis, Seattle, and Columbus, Ohio, have some of the most populous Somali communities in the United States. Somali youth are disproportionately represented within the juvenile justice systems in those cities.

From the basketball court to federal court

Mohamed made a swift transition from sports to the streets. The need to earn money drove him and he began selling drugs, particularly fentanyl, despite knowing the risks and consequences.

Mohamed then found himself entangled in the federal criminal justice system. There, he said, he felt insurmountable pressure to accept plea deals rather than take cases to trial.

Post-incarceration, Mohamed faced the complexities of re-entering society, including securing housing. Despite the challenges, he said the silver lining of his time behind bars was the opportunity for learning and personal growth.

“I never saw myself working a 9-to-5; it just didn’t fit,” he said. “In neighborhoods like mine, it’s easy for young kids to fall into drugs and crime. The lack of guidance and mentorship plays a big role.”

Mohamed’s story is emblematic of those youth from high-risk communities who often get caught in the cycle of crime and incarceration. A recent report by The Marshall Project found that many young people, particularly from marginalized backgrounds, face significant hurdles in accessing opportunities for education, employment, and social support–all contributing to involvement in illegal activities.

Leaders and activists focused on addressing the issue emphasize the need for comprehensive support systems and interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of crime. They also stress the importance of providing pathways to rehabilitation and reintegration. According to a study published in the Journal of Crime and Justice, successful reentry programs that offer education, job training, mental health services and community support can significantly reduce recidivism rates. 

Barriers for Somali youth

Language diversity is prevalent across Somali communities. According to data from the Pew Research Center, roughly 85 percent of Somalis in the United States speak languages other than English. Language barriers can pose challenges for accessing essential services like healthcare and education.

Minneapolis, with its population of more than 86,000 Somalis, has emerged in recent years as a battleground of unseen struggles of Somali youth within the criminal justice system. Nearly half of the population is under 17 years old.

Somalis in Minnesota often face economic challenges. Over half of households earn less than $35,000 annually and 48.3 percent of Somalis under 17 live below the poverty line. Roughly 44 percent of Somalis 25 and older have less than a high school education. 

Community leaders say addressing these issues through targeted programs and policies is crucial for the community’s development as it continues to grow in Minnesota.

In Seattle and Columbus, the Somali communities also face similar challenges, including cultural adaptation, language barriers and economic disparities. There are more than 50,000 Somalis in the Columbus metro area, and about 7,000 Somalis in Seattle, according to local government data.

Somali parents yearn for safety

Saciido Ali, a 61-year-old Somali mother of six, said she often fears for her and children’s safety in Minneapolis because of the worsening crime trends involving Somali youth.

“How can I expect my children to feel safe when every day brings news of another tragedy on our streets?” she said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Recent news coverage from sources like the Minneapolis Star Tribune have painted a grim picture of rising crime rates in areas heavily populated by Somali immigrants. Reports of shootings, robberies, and gang activity have become all too common, Ali said.

“I never thought I’d see the day when our community would be so plagued by violence,” she said. “We came here seeking refuge and opportunity, not the fear and danger that I thought we left back home in Somalia.”

Similar trends have emerged in Columbus. Last year, Somali Bantu fathers in Columbus voiced concerns over the impact of youth gun violence on their community and called for collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations to address the root causes of violence. 

Root causes in focus

Ali’s observations echo the sentiments of many long-time residents, who said they’ve witnessed Minneapolis grapple more with the impact of socioeconomic disparities.

“I’ve witnessed the city change first-hand,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking to see the place we call home change infront our eyes.”

The root causes of this crisis are multifaceted. Experts said high unemployment rates, inadequate access to education and healthcare and a lack of investment in community infrastructure have left young Somali-Americans vulnerable to the lure of gangs and criminal activity.

Additionally, the struggles faced by Somali youth, including barriers to mental health services and exposure to violence, are interconnected with issues of juvenile justice. Disproportionate representation of Somali youth in the juvenile justice system highlights systemic inequalities and the need for culturally sensitive interventions. 

“We need more support,” Ali said. “Our youth deserve better opportunities and resources to break free from the cycle of violence and despair.”

Efforts to address the crisis

Buckeye Ranch, a Columbus-based organization, provides support services to Somali youth, with the goal of addressing underlying factors that contribute to their involvement in the justice system. This includes programs like mediation sessions and community outreach to address conflicts and promote dialogue as alternatives to involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Hassan Omar, director of the Somali Community Association of Ohio, Somali families face challenges with housing discrimination and mental health. But there’s also a lack of trust with law enforcement, dating back to the 2005 shooting of Nasir Abdi, a 23-year-old man who suffered from mental illness.

“That tragic event sparked outrage and started a revolution for Somali people in Columbus to recognize there was an issue targeting our community’s youth,” Omar said.

Omar said his organization provides assistance to Somali individuals and families, including resources for healthcare, employment and youth violence prevention. One of their flagship services is helping Somalis secure suitable and affordable housing. 

“We provide assistance in housing efforts and making sure the Somali members in our community have the resources they need to succeed,” Omar said.

Yusra Mohamud, a community engagement leader, said she spent seven years trying to mitigate the crisis involving Somali youth. Her work began in a financial institution and transitioned to a role with Lake Street Council—a nonprofit dedicated to serving small businesses in South Minneapolis. 

Mohamud said in the aftermath of the George Floyd riots, her focus expanded to encompass recovery efforts for both the youth opium crisis and the restoration of small businesses that had experienced looting and arson.

“Encouraging therapy and support programs for community members struggling to cope is crucial,” she said. 

She said Somali youth in Minneapolis are negatively impacted by a lack of education and a lack of societal empathy. She also said there’s a cultural gap between first-generation Somali parents and their American-born children. And she said there needs to be more culturally based initiatives like Generation Hope. 

“There’s a huge gap because there’s a lack of knowledge on both sides,” she said, noting the barriers in communication and understanding.

Gang affiliation and drugs also factor into the crisis facing Somali youth in Minneapolis, Mohamud said. “When you join a gang, you find a family,” she said. “It’s very hard, especially when you’re that young, to quit overnight.”

Mohamud said there have been some signs of progress, but she’d like to see increased funding and support for programs addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by Somali youth in Minneapolis. “I do think that there’s a lot of hope and opportunity for our community to improve,” she said.

This report was made possible through a Pew Youth Justice Fellowship and the National Association of Black Journalists.