During an extensive Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump expressed his opposition to Somali immigrants entering the United States, criticizing them for being overly dependent on social welfare programs and contributing little to the nation.

These remarks followed the administration’s decision to pause all asylum processes in the wake of a recent incident involving the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C.

Although the suspect in the Washington shooting is of Afghan origin, President Trump seized the opportunity to scrutinize immigrants from other countries, including Somalia.

“They contribute nothing. I believe the welfare dependency is about 88 percent or something. They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country,” Trump stated.

He further remarked, “Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks, and we don’t want them in our country.”

Trump’s comments came as his administration was finalizing plans for an immigration enforcement operation, primarily targeting Somali immigrants who are residing unlawfully in the United States, according to a source familiar with the initiative.

It could begin in days and is expected to zero in on people in the central eastern cities of Minneapolis–St Paul who have final orders of deportation, the person said.

Teams of immigration agents would spread across the cities in what the person described as a directed, high-priority sweep, though the plans remain fluid and subject to change.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations that have not been publicly disclosed.

The operation was first reported by The New York Times.

US Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the agency would not discuss “future or potential operations.”