Reasons why Somali migrants might still target the US despite limitations on travel

MOGADISHU, Somalia Mohamed Abdi Awale, a Somali migrant, survived a harrowing journey across Africa in search of a safer and better life abroad, yet he remains determined to attempt it again, with hopes of eventually reaching the United States despite growing travel restrictions.

Awale was among 165 Somali migrants recently returned home after being detained in Libya. According to the International Organization for Migration, migrants captured en route to Europe often endure unacceptable and inhumane conditions.

His journey spanned over 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), beginning in Mogadishu and passing through Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan. Near the Sudan-Libya border, he was intercepted by smugglers and taken to Kufra, a desert town in the Sahara, where captors tortured him on video to demand ransom from his family.

Torture became normal, Awale recalled. If you couldnt pay, they beat you until you lost consciousness. Some people lost their minds; others didnt survive.

Unable to pay the ransom, his mother, Hawo Elmo Rage, turned to social media for help, appealing to Somalis worldwide. She eventually raised $17,000, enough to secure his release.

Awale was then transported toward the Mediterranean coast with other migrants, but when their vehicle broke down, they endured a two-week trek, facing extreme hunger and dehydration. I thought we would die there, he said. Eventually, the group was detained near Tripoli. Awale spent one month in prison in Sirte and two more months in detention in Tripoli before returning to Somalia in November.

Awale is one of hundreds of thousands of Somalis who have fled the country during over three decades of civil war. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that another 3.5 million remain displaced within Somalia.

While most Somali refugees settle in nearby countries like Kenya, many, like Awale, aspire to move to Western nations. He has dreamed of moving to the U.S. since childhood.

I want him to stay, his mother said. But I know he dreams of a better life. I pray for his safety and not the dangers he faced.

Recent U.S. immigration policies have reshaped migrants plans. In June, the Trump administration restricted travel to the U.S. for citizens of Somalia and 11 other countries, prompting Awale to turn his attention to Europe. Nevertheless, he still hopes to reach the U.S., despite stricter restrictions and anti-Somali measures from the White House.

The White House also recently paused immigration applications from 19 countries, including Somalia. America was my dream, but it feels closed now, Awale said. Perhaps after this administration, the door will reopen.

Author: Riley Thompson