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The federal government has dispatched additional immigration officials to Minnesota, representing an escalation in its rhetoric and actions targeting the region and its sizable immigrant populations.

Federal Surge Confirmed by Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “surging to Minneapolis to root out fraud, apprehend perpetrators and remove criminal undocumented individuals”. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, told 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, ICE Official

Reports suggest the federal government is bringing in another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, into the state for a 30-day period. While the ICE official did not confirm that specific figure, he called it a combined operation from both agencies. DHS declined to specify a number but acknowledged it had “increased law enforcement” presence.

The Crackdown Effort and Local Fallout

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the agency's enforcement push in the state has been ongoing since the start of last month. In response, local residents 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 apprehension of being apprehended.

The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, is believed to be on the ground in the state. She is featured in a DHS video of an apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his nation of origin.

Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Rhetoric

This focus on Minnesota comes while the state is dealing with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have allegedly captured the attention of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic comments from him specifically about 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 further stated that officers have been “going door to door” to companies suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He commended Secretary Noem for leading an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and framed the effort as fighting against local non-cooperation policies in places like Minnesota.

Governor's Rebuke

In a public statement, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labeled the federal surge “outrageous” and part of a “conflict that’s being fought against Minnesota”.

“I don’t think any state government in history has had to battle 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 forceful criticism underscores the significant division between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying crackdown.