Federal Immigration Operations Target Somali Communities in Minnesota

Thu Jan 08 2026 23:48:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Department of Homeland Security is implementing a significant immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota, focusing on alleged fraud within Somali communities.

The Trump administration has initiated one of the largest immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, deploying approximately 2,000 federal agents to investigate allegations of fraud within Somali communities. This operation also aims at deportation efforts and has sparked increased political and community tensions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A major immigration enforcement operation is underway in Minnesota, marking one of the most extensive crackdowns in recent history by the Trump administration, with as many as 2,000 federal agents being deployed to the Twin Cities area.

This surge in federal law enforcement aims to address allegations of fraud involving Somali residents, particularly in the realm of nutrition and pandemic aid programs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that the operation began over the weekend and will focus heavily on comprehensive investigations into potential fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices.

Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, stated that a substantial portion of personnel would be drawn from the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, which conducts immigration arrests and deportations. The scope of this operation is unprecedented, with expectations to enhance the federal presence in Minnesota significantly.

Specific tactics employed by Homeland Security Investigations will include door-to-door inquiries throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to track down individuals suspected of various criminal activities related to immigration violations. Lyons noted the operation includes specialized tactical units designed to assist in these efforts.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has actively participated in the operation, having accompanied ICE officers during arrests. In one incident, she was filmed wearing a tactical vest while overseeing the arrest of a man wanted in Ecuador on serious charges, including murder and sexual assault.

The operation highlights a tense political atmosphere in Minnesota, where federal authorities have intensified immigration arrests in recent months. The implications of linking immigration enforcement to specific communities, particularly in relation to fraud allegations involving aid programs aimed at families with roots in Somalia, have raised concerns among civil rights advocates and local officials.

The situation remains fluid; as the operation progresses, the scale and longevity could potentially change, underscoring the high stakes involved in these enforcement actions and their impact on the community.