Mayor Michelle Wu claims Somalis are to thank for Boston's achievements—it was founded in 1630

Michelle Wu, Democrat Mayor of Boston, posted video on her social media account where she said that the Somali community is responsible for the achievements in Boston despite the city being founded in 1630 as one of the country’s oldest cities. The comments came on Monday after federal officials had pulled Somali-Americans out of line at Faneuil Hall.

"You cannot talk about any achievement that the city of Boston has had, in safety, jobs and economic development, in education, without talking about the Somali community that has lifted our city up,” Wu said.

She added, “We are proud and we are grateful for our Somali community and for our Somali-American neighbors. Boston and the country are clear that hate has no place in our society.. We will use every attack to actually strengthen and expand the services available to empower and work alongside our community members who are already doing so much good in the world and set an example for the rest of the country.”

In July, Mayor Wu celebrated Boston raising the Somali flag over City Hall in a ceremony that was described as “conquering colonialism.” Wu declared July 1, 2025, Somali Independence Day in Boston. She said, “Boston is safer, smarter, and stronger because of our Somali neighbors.”

In June, Wu compared ICE agents who wear masks to members of a neo-Nazi group. “I don’t know of any police department that routinely wears masks. We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks. NSC-131 (a New England neo-Nazi group) routinely wears masks,” she said to reporters.

Todd Lyons, ICE acting Director, responded, saying, “Here’s what I have to say to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and anyone else stirring up the outrage about what ICE does: These are real people with real families you’re hurting with your ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments and it’s time to remember that.”

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) recently defended the Trump administration's stance on Somali immigrants in the wake of the allegations of billion-dollar fraud schemes in Minnesota, with dozens being charged or convicted.

“Not all cultures are equal, and not all countries are equal,” Fine said. “There are some people who come to this country to add value, and there are some that come to this country to take value,” he said to CNN’s Boris Sanchez, who had asked Fine about President Trump’s comments calling Somalis “filthy.”