WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has commenced what officials are labeling the most extensive immigration enforcement operation ever executed, preparing to send as many as 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis for a broad crackdown related to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.
This operation, which was set in motion over the weekend, marks one of the largest mobilizations of the Department of Homeland Security personnel in a single city in recent years. The surge notably grows the federal law enforcement footprint in Minnesota amidst rising political and community tensions.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons disclosed in an interview with Newsmax that the agency was undertaking its largest immigration operation ever, without specifying the number of officers involved.
Approximately 75% of the personnel will come from ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, dedicated to immigration arrests and deportations. Additionally, agents from Homeland Security Investigations, focusing on fraud and cross-border criminal organizations, are also involved, conducting door-to-door investigations in the Twin Cities area related to fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices.
The HSI agents primarily aim to identify suspected fraud, while deportation officers will arrest immigrants believed to have violated immigration laws. Specialized tactical units are expected to participate in this extensive operation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been active in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region and accompanied ICE officers during some arrests, including a video posted on social media where she stated, You will be held accountable for your crimes. In a related incident, one arrest was made of a man from Ecuador wanted for serious charges including murder and sexual assault.
When queried about the deployment scale, Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin refrained from providing specific numbers, citing officer safety but confirmed the surge had resulted in over 1,000 arrests of individuals identified as serious offenders.
Federal authorities have been ramping up immigration arrests in the Minneapolis area since late last year, with Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel announcing enhanced operations, particularly emphasizing fraud investigations.
President Donald Trump has persistently connected the administration's crackdown in Minnesota to fraud cases involving federal nutrition and pandemic assistance programs linked primarily to defendants with Somali roots.
As this significant operation evolves, officials caution that its scope and duration may shift in the upcoming days.
