One of the leaders of Minnesota's Muslim commununity says statements from President Trump are putting the state's Somali population in danger.
CAIR Minnesota's Jaylani Hussein said the rhetoric spreads into neighborhoods, mosques, schools and workplaces.
"When politicians turn entire communities into symbols in their political battles, they stop talking about policy and start playing with people's lives," Hussein said in a statement on Friday.
"It creates fear, and puts Somali and Muslim families in real danger," he said.
Some Somali immigrants say they are concerned that their immigration status will be adversely affected.
Governor Walz, who's running for a third term in St. Paul, added his own thoughts in a statement on Friday, saying the president "launched a barrage of attacks on Minnesota by using deeply offensive language and spreading lies."
In his Thanksgiving night social media post, Trump placed the blame on refugees for "social dysfunction in America," targeting Somalis living in Minnesota.
"Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota," said Trump in his post. "Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for "prey" as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone."
He also called Walz a slur that suggested a mental disability.
"Release the MRI results," posted Walz, referring to a recent medical exam that Trump said he took.
President Trump told reporters that Minnesota Somalis have nothing to do withe National Guard shooting in Washington, but added that Somalians have caused a lot of trouble.
It was a week ago when Trump said he was ending temporary legal protections for some Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
Statistics from Minnesota compass show the state has the largest Somali population in the U.S., roughly 80,000.