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The national administration has deployed additional immigration officials to Minnesota, marking an escalation in its rhetoric and actions targeting the region and its sizable immigrant populations.

Operation Details Announced by Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “surging to Minneapolis to eradicate fraud, arrest perpetrators and deport criminal undocumented individuals”. The top official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, stated to a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the biggest immigration operation ever underway right now”.

“Our agency has the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director

Reports suggest the administration is bringing in another two thousand agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a 30-day period. While Lyons did not confirm that specific figure, he called it a combined operation from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but stated it had “surged law enforcement” presence.

The Crackdown Effort and Local Fallout

Dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” the agency's crackdown in Minnesota has been ongoing since early December. In reaction, community members have pushed back against ICE, engaging in protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have reportedly avoided public life, forgoing trips to grocery stores or medical care due to fear of being detained.

The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is featured in a government-produced video of an apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his home country.

Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Rhetoric

This focus on Minnesota comes while the state is grappling with several high-profile cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have reportedly drawn the focus of former President Trump and led to 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 majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.

Lyons added that officers have been “conducting visits” to companies suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “investigating these fraud cases”. He commended Secretary Noem for running an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and framed the effort as fighting against local non-cooperation policies in places like Minnesota.

State Leadership Response

In a press conference, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labeled the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “conflict that’s being waged against Minnesota”.

“In my view, any state government in history has had to battle against the federal government every single day. We are being attacked like no other time in our state’s history because of a spiteful, malicious administration that is indifferent to the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's forceful criticism underscores the deep division between state and federal authorities over this escalating enforcement initiative.