The federal government has deployed additional immigration enforcement agents to the state of Minnesota, representing an intensification in its rhetoric and actions targeting the state and its immigrant populations.
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “surging to Minneapolis to eradicate fraud, arrest perpetrators and remove criminal illegal aliens”. The top official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, stated to a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the largest immigration operation ever taking place 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 administration is sending another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, into the state for a one-month period. While the ICE official did not confirm that specific figure, he called it a joint effort from both agencies. DHS declined to specify a number but stated it had “surged law enforcement” presence.
Dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” the federal enforcement push in Minnesota has been ongoing since the start of last month. In reaction, local residents have pushed back against ICE, organizing protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have reportedly avoided public life, forgoing trips to grocery stores or medical care due to apprehension of being detained.
The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is seen in a DHS video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his nation of origin.
This focus on Minnesota comes while the state is grappling with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have reportedly drawn the attention of former President Trump and led to xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. Notably, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., and the majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.
Lyons added that officers have been “going door to door” to businesses suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He praised Secretary Noem for leading 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 labeled the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “conflict that’s being waged against Minnesota”.
“In my view, any 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 doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz
The state's forceful condemnation underscores the significant political rift between state and federal authorities over this intensifying crackdown.
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