Watch: Trump says he does not want Somali immigrants in the United States and calls people “trash”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said during a lengthy Cabinet meeting Tuesday that he does not want Somali immigrants in the United States, saying residents of the war-torn East African country rely too heavily on the U.S. social safety net and do not add much to the United States.

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The president’s comment came days after his administration announced it would halt all asylum decisions following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington. The suspect in last week’s incident is originally from Afghanistan, but Trump used the moment to raise questions about immigrants from other countries, including Somalia.

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“They don’t contribute anything. The welfare level is about 88% or something like that. They don’t contribute anything. I don’t want them in our country,” he said. “Their country is not good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don’t want them in our country.”