Why Somali migrants may still aim for US despite travel restrictions

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somali migrant Mohamed Abdi Awale endured horrors on an ill-fated journey across Africa to seek a better life in the West — but he's determined to try again one day, even aiming for the U.S. despite increasing restrictions.

Awale is one of 165 Somali migrants recently repatriated after being detained in Libya, where the International Organization for Migration says those caught on journeys to Europe face “unacceptable and inhumane conditions.”

Awale undertook a more than 5,000-kilometer (3,100-mile) journey, leaving Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, to cross Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Sudan.

He was captured by smugglers near the Sudan-Libyan border and taken to the Sahara oasis town of Kufra, where captors filmed him being tortured in a bid to extract a ransom from his family.

“Torture became normal,” Awale said. “If you failed to pay, they beat you until you fainted. Some people lost their minds. Others didn’t survive.”

Unable to afford the ransom, his mother, Hawo Elmo Rage, turned to social media, pleading with Somalis at home and abroad to help her save her son.

“They told me to send the money or they would take his life,” Rage said. She ultimately raised $17,000, enough to free him.

Awale was released from Kufra and put in a car bound for the Mediterranean coast with other migrants. After their vehicle broke down, the group trekked for more than two weeks, facing starvation and dehydration.

“I thought we would die there,” Awale said.

The group was then detained outside of Tripoli, and Awale spent a month in prison in the coastal town of Sirte and another two months in detention in Tripoli before his repatriation to Somalia in November.

Awale became one of hundreds of thousands of Somalis that have fled the country in more than three decades of civil war, according to UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, which estimates that another 3.5 million people are displaced within Somalia itself.

While most Somali refugees live in neighboring countries like Kenya, according to UNHCR, many like Awale have been inspired to seek a future in the West. Awale said that he dreamed of moving to the U.S. since he was a child.

“I want him to stay,” his mother said. “But I know he wishes for a better life. I pray God gives him a safe future— not the dangerous one he found.”

Changes to immigration policy this year under Trump administration changed the calculus of migrants like Awale. U.S. President Donald Trump banned travel to the U.S. by citizens of Somalia and 11 other countries in June — so Awale set his sights on Europe.

Awale remains hopeful that he will reach the U.S. one day, despite anti-Somali sentiment from the White House and a further tightening of immigration restrictions for Somalis.

The White House also announced this week that it was pausing all immigration applications for people from 19 countries, including Somalia.

“My dream was America, but I felt like Trump closed that door,” Awale said. “Maybe after Trump’s term ends.”

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Mohamed Abdi Awale, who says he was tortured by smugglers while trying to reach Europe, is helped by his mother at their home in Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Mohamed Abdi Awale, who says he was captured and tortured by smugglers while attempting to reach Europe, shows his mother wounds during an interview with The Associated Press in Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Mohamed Abdi Awale, who says he was captured and tortured by smugglers while attempting to reach Europe, shows his mother wounds during an interview with The Associated Press in Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Mohamed Abdi Awale, who says he was captured and tortured by smugglers while attempting to reach Europe, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Lando Norris is the Formula 1 title favorite ahead of a three-way decider in Abu Dhabi — which also means he has the most to lose.

He and teammate Oscar Piastri are each looking to win their first title, but Norris saw his comfortable 24-point lead entering last week's Qatar Grand Prix whittled down to 12 by the end of it as Red Bull's Max Verstappen surged back into the fight.

“Of course, I have the most to lose because I am the one at the top,” Norris said Thursday. “I’ll do my best to stay there till the end of the year, a few more days. At the same time, if it doesn’t go my way, then I'll try again next year. It’ll hurt probably for a little while, but that’s life.”

The only way Norris can lose the title is if he finishes Sunday's race outside the top three. His pace in Friday's first practice session suggested that's unlikely as was fastest ahead of Verstappen, though only by .008 of a second. Charles Leclerc was third, 0.016 off the pace for Ferrari.

Still, the session wasn't a reliable guide to race pace. It was held in daytime, not under lights, and only 11 of the 20 regular drivers took part. Piastri was among those to give up his car as teams pushed to meet a rule requiring them to field young or inexperienced drivers in a certain number of practice sessions each year.

Norris has denied he'll ask Piastri to help out to at least ensure one McLaren driver becomes champion if it seems Verstappen will take the title.

Verstappen’s chances were revived when McLaren botched a strategy call in Qatar, one race after Norris and Piastri were disqualified in Las Vegas.

The one contender who's been in a final-race decider before, Verstappen said he's “just enjoying being here” in a season where his title defense often seemed impossible.

“I have four of those at home, so it’s nice to add a fifth,” he said Thursday, looking at the trophy standing next to him.

“I’ve already achieved everything that I wanted to achieve in F1 and everything is just a bonus. I just keep doing it because I love it and I enjoy it and that’s also how I go into this weekend. Have a good time out there, try to maximize the result.”

Verstappen was 104 points off the lead at one stage, and wrote his chances off again when he wasn't competitive in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix, three races ago.

Piastri had a 34-point lead in August and seemed on target to become the first Australian champion in 45 years. He hasn't won in eight races since.

With only a slim shot at the title, Piastri could face the dilemma of whether to sacrifice his own bid for Norris. “I don’t really have an answer until I know what’s expected of me," he said.

Piastri showed good pace to take second spot in Qatar last week, though he was left “speechless” after a race dominated by McLaren's wrong strategy call.

“Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion," he said, "but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands walks through the paddock at the Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia arrives for the first practice for the he Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain walks through the paddock at the Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)