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Fear Grips Somali Community In Minneapolis As Fed Agents Zero In; Texas Officials Release 911 Calls Made During Deadly Flooding; Official 2026 World Cup Draw For Group Stage Matches In USA, Mexico, Canada. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired December 05, 2025 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Multi-faith leaders in Minneapolis have come together calling for justice and protection for the large Somali immigrant community there as federal immigration agents zero in, targeting residents who President Trump has called garbage. He says they should, quote, go back to where they come from. Now, the vast majority of them are U.S. citizens or they're legal residents.

I'm joined now by Minnesota Democratic State Senator Zaynab Mohamed. She is a Somali immigrant. Thank you so much for being with us.

Can you just speak to what the impact has been of this crackdown on the Somali community there in the Twin Cities?

MOHAMED: ZAYNAB MOHAMED (D) MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR: Yes, thank you so much for having me, Brianna. It has been a difficult few weeks here in the Twin Cities and across the state, actually. ICE agents have been here since Monday.

They've been deployed by the hundreds. They are spread across the state of Minnesota. So they're not just in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They're also in St. Cloud, Minnesota. And so folks are vigilant. They are looking out.

In terms of what's happening on the ground, what we're seeing is that ICE agents are not here to enforce immigration laws. They are here to just be aggressive towards our community and bully them. We have seen a number of United States citizens who've been questioned, who've been detained, and whose constitutional rights have been violated.

And that has been the biggest concern. I was at the biggest mall today, Karmel Mall, talking to folks who said, I was in my car and three agents pulled up with three different cars. They started questioning me.

I told them I was a United States citizen.

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They don't care about immigration. They are not here to enforce the laws of this country. They are here to violate the constitutions of United States citizens. KEILAR: Most Somalis in Minnesota are American-born, those of Somali descent, of those not born in America, almost 90 percent are American citizens. You've mentioned how they're being affected by this immigration activity. So they're just reporting that they are being profiled, it sounds like.

Can you tell us what they're able to do in terms of reporting this?

MOHAMED: Yes, absolutely. So there was a number of folks who are citizens who were questioned, who were detained by ICE agents. There were two men who were in front of their building yesterday, Monday, who were questioned by ICE agents.

They have identified themselves. They let them know that they're U.S. citizens. They had their ID and their passport IDs with them, and they didn't care. They still questioned them.

Same thing happened this morning at Karmel Mall, and then it also happened at the airport as well, where we have a number of immigrants working there. In terms of folks, we're figuring out what it means for people to come forward and tell their stories, but also to protect these people, right?

We don't know what these people are capable of. You have folks walking around in your neighborhoods who are wearing masks, who are not identifying themselves, who are driving unmarked vehicles, and so this isn't what law enforcement looks like. I think that's the most important thing for people to know.

It's that these aren't law enforcement who are carrying out and implementing laws of our country. These look like regular people and often really scary, and they've been really detrimental to the safety of our communities.

KEILAR: So you say this isn't about immigration. In your view, this is about violating constitutional rights. In your view, to what end?

MOHAMED: That is the question. We know that right now the target is the Somali community. That's who the president has set his sights on.

That's why these agents are here, but we know it doesn't stop with us. They've been here since Monday. They have only picked up 12 people.

Out of those 12 people, only five people are Somalis. And so, we're not talking -- and that's because of the fact that Somali people are U.S. citizens. Majority of them, over 90 percent of them, are either naturalized like myself or born here.

A lot of them are second and third generation Americans, and that's sort of the biggest problem. To what end is the question? What does it mean when somebody is in their home and is a United States citizen and somebody walks in without a warrant from a judge and just questions them?

Or that person disappears from the community. Who do we call? And I think we're figuring out to what end. I think America right now we are in a defining moment in our state and in our country to stand up to what is happening. What we're seeing is an actual authoritarian government take place.

KEILAR: A lot of people in America are learning about the Somali Americans who are concentrated in Minnesota. Citizens of Somalia were first granted temporary protected status in the U.S. in the early 90s during the first Bush administration during the early days of the Somali civil war. Talk to us about the role of the Somali population in the U.S., and specifically in the Twin Cities, where there is this concentration over the last few decades.

MOHAMED: Yes, so there's a little over 80,000 Somalis here in the state of Minnesota and across the country, maybe a little bit over 100,000 to 200,000. So it's not a lot of people. It's a small, tiny, tiny, tiny population.

And in Minnesota, we are not just in the Twin Cities. I know that Minneapolis and St. Paul have been talked a lot about because we've got a number of our people who are all over the community and looking at the footage right now, that is Karmel Mall, which is the largest Somali mall in the country.

It is four floors. It is huge. And these are small businesses and entrepreneurs who came to this country to make something of themselves and to also give back. We have Somalis in greater Minnesota, in central Minnesota, in Moorhead, in Faribault.

These are tiny, tiny rural communities. And these folks are, they're factory workers. They are farmers.

They are the fabric of our community. They're taxpayers. And this is their home, right?

They're not going back. They're not going anywhere. We're on the second and third generations in Minnesota.

We have Norwegians who've been here for six, seven generations. And we have Minnesotans who are Somalis who've been here for three generations. And I think that's the most important thing for people to know is that our bags are unpacked.

This is home. We are not going anywhere.

KEILAR: Yes, they are so buying --

MOHAMED: I've been here since I was eight years old.

KEILAR: You, sorry, can you repeat that? You said you've been there since you were how many years old?

MOHAMED: Yes, my family immigrated here when I was eight years old. And this is the home I have known since I was eight years old. I don't plan on going anywhere.

I love serving my community. I love being a public servant. And 99 percent of Minnesotans who are Somalis are exactly like me.

This is home.

KEILAR: Yes, this is home.

[15:40:00]

Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed, thank you so much for being with us.

MOHAMED: Thank you so much, Brianna.

KEILAR: Newly released audio capturing minute by minute devastation and desperation. After the break, some of the heartbreaking 911 calls made during the deadly flooding in Texas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Officials in Texas have released more than 20 hours of desperate 911 calls received during last July's deadly flooding in Hill Country. The calls are from the early morning of July 4th when raging, swift moving waters devastated communities and killed 136 people, including numerous children at the all-girls summer camp, Camp Mystic.

CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has listened to the audio. Julia, walk us through what you heard.

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Boris, it's really difficult to listen. I'll say that first and I'll warn our listeners that what we're going to describe here is also difficult to listen. We're talking about 435 calls in six hours, 100 of those coming between 5 and 6 a.m. local time. And what they're doing is painting a picture of what's going through the minds of those people who were stranded or didn't know what to do. Some of them are asked by those dispatchers, very few dispatchers answering those calls, do you need fire, EMS or police?

And one of them, a caller says, I need everything. I have children here. I'm afraid that this whole thing is going to go. Let's get out. Let's get out of here.

Another call from a woman who says that she's inside her car. She's in an SUV and she says she can't open the door. She's asking the dispatcher what to do.

Another one is a man saying, I'm hanging onto a beam. There's nothing -- nowhere else for me to go. Is somebody coming?

And time and again, Boris, these dispatchers are saying, try to get to higher ground. Can you get up on your roof?

Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes those answers were no. And they're saying, just hang tight. We're trying to send somebody your way. Again, these are emotional pleas for help. And just also asking what

is the action -- course of action here? Some of them were tourists that didn't really know the area.

So all of this very distressing information. We did hear from the chief of police that this was coming. And he asked for all of those listening to keep those survivors and their families in their thoughts as we're listening through these.

SANCHEZ: And Julia, the owners of Camp Mystic vow to make safety changes after facing heavy criticism about disaster preparedness. What's happened since?

VARGAS JONES: Well, they did announce that they will reopen this summer with some changes, enhanced safety measures that they include a flood warning, river monitors designed to provide an early detection of those high water events, two-way radios in every cabin with national weather alerts, as well as high capacity generators to maintain the power in those critical areas of the camp. That is after the Texas legislature enacted new camp safety laws earlier in September -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Julia Vargas Jones, thank you so much for that reporting -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Now to some of the other headlines that we're watching this hour. President Trump is touting on True Social that he has quote, approved tiny cars to be built in America. He says manufacturers have long wanted to do this.

Important to note, there's no specific federal regulation prohibiting production of microcars in this country. Some small cars from Asia have been imported already, but not in significant numbers. That's because mostly market forces, not regulation have stopped the production of the ultra small vehicles in the U.S.

Also, New Zealand police say they have recovered a limited edition James Bond inspired Faberge Egg pendant, which was stolen in a very unusual way. Police say a man entered the Auckland store where the pendant was for sale and swallowed it. He was immediately arrested.

And as we have been reporting throughout this week, officers had monitored him around the clock to make sure that they managed to retrieve that $19,000 item. After six days, it passed naturally through the suspect's gastrointestinal tract without medical intervention, we've been told. The egg is one of only 50 made. It's encrusted with multiple diamonds and sapphires.

Well, all right, still ahead. It is the moment that millions of soccer fans across the globe have been waiting for. We have some new details on the 2026 World Cup draw.

And for many, this time of year is about giving back. But "CNN HEROES AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE" salutes five extraordinary people who put others first all year long. The star-studded show airs tomorrow at 8 p.m. Eastern. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saturday on CNN. It's a special night of hope and inspiration. "CNN HEROES, AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE." Meet the everyday people doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of others.

TIM WOODWARD, ANIMAL RESCUE CORPS: We've rescued well over 10,000 animals. My hope is that they have the best life possible.

DEBRA DES VIGNES, INDIANA PRISON WRITERS WORKSHOP: I decided to volunteer in a prison. Why not use writing as a tool to become better in the space that you're in?

[15:50:00]

HEIDI CARMAN, FIRST RESPONDER THERAPY DOGS: We have hundreds of therapy dog teams across the entire country. We have helped so many people.

HILLARY COHEN, EVERY DAY ACTION: Giving someone that's hungry food is the best thing one can do. Now more than ever, we have to help each other.

QUILEN BLACKWELL, SOUTHSIDE BLOOMS: What we do is creating jobs in the floral industry for at-risk youth. There are people who want a chance at something better.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Find out who'll be Hero of the Year. "CNN HEROES, AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE," Saturday at 8 on CNN and next day on the CNN app.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: It's going to be a great show with some great heroes and you don't want to miss it. So gather up the family and get ready to be inspired.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:55:00]

SANCHEZ: The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on this planet, or any other. And just a short time ago, we found out what the bracket is going to look like in next summer's tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The big draw that sorts all 48 teams into 12 groups took place this afternoon at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

KEILAR: It looks like a game show. I love how this looks here. The United States is in Group D, and their first match is set for June 12th in Los Angeles against Paraguay.

Group D also includes Australia and the winner of a playoff to be decided in March between four teams in Europe who are still competing for a slot. Let's talk about this now with CBS Sports Soccer commentator Chris

Wittyngham. All right, Chris, let's start, of course, with Team USA here. What will be facing them in that four-team round, Robin?

CHRIS WITTYNGHAM, CBS SPORTS SOCCER COMMENTATOR: I think they'd have to be really excited about what they drew today at the World Cup. When you consider that they were a Pot 1 team, they could potentially have come up against some of the strongest teams in Europe or South America. Instead, the next team that they drew was Australia, who is the lowest-ranked team out of that second pot, a team that they actually recently beat in a friendly in Denver.

You look at Paraguay as well, another nation that the United States have beat recently in a friendly. This is a team that was fairly low on confidence and really was going to struggle to, I think, capture the hope of the nation during the summer's World Cup. But recent results have turned around, and I think this draw could potentially send them on their way to winning the group, which perhaps would have been unthinkable a few months ago.

SANCHEZ: Yes, positive development there. We are also anticipating a changing of the guard of sorts with this World Cup. Two of the greatest ever, Messi and Ronaldo, walking away from the game after this.

Does Messi have a chance at repeating? Can Ronaldo actually win his first World Cup?

WITTYNGHAM: Well, if you actually look at it right now, Boris, it seems as though we're on a collision course for those two to potentially meet in a quarterfinal. There is a very real chance that Portugal and Argentina, should they win their groups and should they advance to the quarterfinal, they would come up against each other, which would be the all-time way for them to potentially bow out of this tournament. If you are to ask me, is there a chance?

Of course, there's a very real chance, especially, and this is a bit of a wrinkle that was introduced recently, FIFA decided to rank the top four teams based off of their FIFA World rankings and basically separate them from the bracket. The top four teams are not allowed to play each other until the semifinal, should they win their group, which is expected.

So Argentina absolutely have a great chance. They were brilliant in qualifying yet again. And Lionel Messi is still delivering. He's playing in the MLS Cup final tomorrow against Vancouver Whitecaps and still playing well in the U.S. And I think the hope will be is that he can translate that form to Argentina in six months' time.

KEILAR: And we have heard, Chris, the FIFA chief multiple times now say that this is going to be like 104 Super Bowls in a month. I mean, do you think that's sort of -- is that an apt description?

WITTYNGHAM: I think so. Look, there are going to be some games and we kind of saw the draw today where you're going to have games like Jordan against Algeria and you're going to have Iran against New Zealand. Those might not quite be on the level of Super Bowls.

But during the summer, this is the only thing that people do around the world for six weeks. And so I think in terms of aggregate audience, there is a very real chance that it is effectively the Super Bowl 104 times. There are going to be some games that will not feel like it.

I think when you look at expanding the field to 48 teams instead of 32, you're going to allow a lot of teams that have qualified for the first time, a lot of teams that are not traditional soccer powers. But I still think when push comes to shove, when there's a fan somewhere in England or Brazil or in Algeria, Morocco or in New Zealand or Japan, anywhere around the world, if there's a World Cup game on, chances are people will be watching it. So I think that description is fairly apt.

SANCHEZ: I am familiar with Chris Wittyngham's game, as they say he is, after all, a fancy lad. I wonder what you made, Chris, of what we heard from President Trump saying that soccer should be officially called football, what the NFL does should be called something else. What would you name what the NFL does?

WITTYNGHAM: There are some derogatory words that are used like hand egg or throw ball. Those maybe would not be acceptable. But I do think that the president did make a point there.

The president didn't make a point. The game is not play with your feet. Soccer is, as is known here, is play with your feet.

That should be the world's football. So I do think that there is a very real argument to be made, although I think we'll have to have some pitch meetings on what exactly those will be.

KEILAR: So true, OK.

KEILAR: Controversial take.

KEILAR: Top three teams that we should be watching. Chris, who do you think is going to get there?

WITTYNGHAM: Yes. So I think Spain, as the reigning champions of Europe, are without question the team to watch. I believe they are the betting favorite, as it stands right now, to go and win the World Cup.

They are amazing. They have a talented young player named Lamine Yamal, who continues to get better at 18-years-old.

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He just sets records over and over again for things that he's achieving at a young age. They're fantastic. They're absolutely a clear favorite.

Argentina is right in there as the reigning world champions. And the talent that they showed in South American World Cup qualifying as well. And I think the English might have the best squad at the tournament. I think England are a team that are absolutely fantastic from top to bottom. The depth that they have in forward positions.

This is the one factor, though, that I do think could work against the English, is that we're dealing with summer humidity, summer heat in the United States.

SANCHEZ: Good to know. Chris Wittyngham, thank you so much. "THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts right now.

Shout out to Mike Brebner (ph), who is retiring, a CNN legend.