Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
A Somali family separated by war and politics for over a decade has finally reunited in Minneapolis, Minnesota just days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Fardowsa Abdi Aden, 35, her husband Mohamed Yusuf Hassan, and their eight children arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last Friday, greeted by tearful embraces from her sister Amina Aden, 37, and their mother Fadumo Isse, 57. The emotional reunion marked the end of a long and arduous journey that began in an Ethiopian refugee camp and nearly stalled under Trump’s restrictive immigration policies.
Fardowsa and Amina grew up together in the Kebribeyah refugee camp in Ethiopia after fleeing Somalia’s civil war in 1991. The camp, home to over 16,000 refugees, lacks basic necessities like clean water, healthcare, and adequate shelter. Fardowsa spent her entire life there, raising her children in the same harsh conditions. Amina and Fadumo resettled in the United States in 2011, leaving Fardowsa behind due to her marital status.
“I felt like I lost my eyes,” Amina said, describing her life in Minnesota without her sister, who had been her caretaker after she lost her eyesight as a child. The family stayed connected through phone calls, but the separation weighed heavily on them. Fardowsa’s refugee application was nearly approved in 2016, but Trump’s travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries halted the process.
When President Joe Biden reversed the ban in 2021, Fardowsa’s application moved forward. However, Trump’s re-election in November 2024 reignited fears that the family’s reunion might be delayed again. “This happened to me last time in 2016, but thank God this isn’t happening to us again,” Mohamed said at the airport.
The family’s arrival was celebrated by about 20 volunteers and staff from the International Institute of Minnesota, a nonprofit that assists refugees and immigrants. Michelle Eberhard, the institute’s director of refugee services, organized the warm welcome to show the family that Minnesota is happy to have them. “I just thought it would be really special to really welcome the family and help them know we’re really happy they’re here in Minnesota,” Eberhard said.
The reunion was bittersweet, as Trump signed executive orders shortly after his inauguration, temporarily suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program and stranding thousands of refugees worldwide. “I’m very happy that I was able to make it before the closure happened,” Mohamed said. “I’m praying that the president will have mercy on people being trapped right now.”
For Fadumo, having her daughters and grandchildren together in one place felt like a dream. “I feel like I am dreaming,” she said through a translator. “I feel like I’m flying in the air with happiness.” The family spent their first few nights in Amina and Fadumo’s small apartment in south Minneapolis before moving into their own furnished apartment with help from the International Institute.
Fardowsa expressed gratitude for the opportunity to start a new life in Minnesota but also sorrow for other refugee families affected by Trump’s policies. “I’m praying to God that he [Trump] doesn’t stop them, or nothing stops them,” she said.
The family’s story highlights the resilience of refugees and the importance of family reunification. As they settle into their new home, Fardowsa looks forward to finding a job and ensuring her children receive a better education. Their journey serves as a reminder of the human cost of restrictive immigration policies and the hope that comes with reuniting loved ones.