SEATTLE — Members of Western Washington’s Somali community are speaking out after President Donald Trump used harsh language to describe Somali immigrants living in the United States , remarks that community leaders say are painful, dangerous and risk inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment.

Washington is home to one of the largest Somali populations on the West Coast, concentrated in South Seattle, Tukwila, SeaTac and other parts of south King County. On Wednesday, many residents contacted by KING 5 declined to speak on camera, saying they feared retaliation or harassment after the President’s comments.

Trump, speaking earlier this week, referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage” and suggested they should leave the United States, claiming without evidence that they “contribute nothing.” In

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