The federal government has dispatched additional immigration officials to Minnesota, representing an escalation in its campaign and rhetoric targeting the region and its sizable immigrant populations.
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to eradicate fraud, apprehend perpetrators and remove criminal undocumented individuals”. The top official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, told a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the biggest immigration crackdown ever underway right now”.
“We have the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director
News accounts indicate the federal government is sending another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a 30-day period. While Lyons did not verify that specific figure, he described it as a combined operation from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but acknowledged it had “increased law enforcement” resources.
Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the federal enforcement push in the state has been underway since early December. In reaction, community members have fought back against ICE, organizing protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have reportedly stayed away from public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to apprehension of being apprehended.
The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, is believed to be personally involved in the state. She is featured in a government-produced video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador wanted for murder in his nation of origin.
This focus on Minnesota comes while the state is dealing with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have allegedly drawn the focus of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic comments from him specifically about Somalis. It is worth noting, Minnesota is home to the biggest Somali population in the U.S., and the vast majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.
Lyons added that officers have been “conducting visits” to businesses allegedly hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He praised Secretary Noem for running an “highly effective operation” in Minneapolis and said the agents were fighting against local non-cooperation policies in places like Minnesota.
In a press conference, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the federal surge “outrageous” and part of a “conflict that’s being fought against Minnesota”.
“I don’t think any government in history has had to fight a war against the federal government every single day. We are under assault like no other time in our state’s history because of a petty, vile administration that is indifferent to the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz
The state's strong criticism highlights the significant division between state and federal authorities over this escalating enforcement initiative.
