The national administration has deployed additional immigration officials to Minnesota, representing an intensification in its campaign and rhetoric targeting the state and its immigrant communities.
The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to eradicate fraud, arrest perpetrators and deport criminal undocumented individuals”. The top official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, told a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the largest immigration operation ever underway right now”.
“We have the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director
Reports indicate the administration is sending another two thousand agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a 30-day period. While Lyons did not verify that specific figure, he described it as a combined operation from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but stated it had “surged law enforcement” presence.
Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the federal crackdown in Minnesota has been ongoing since early December. In reaction, local residents have fought back against ICE, organizing protests and attempting to block deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly stayed away from public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to fear of being detained.
The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, is believed to be personally involved in the state. She is featured in a government-produced video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his nation of origin.
This fixation on Minnesota comes while the state is grappling with several prominent cases alleging misuse of social services. These cases have reportedly captured the focus of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. Notably, 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 “going door to door” to companies allegedly 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 sanctuary policies in places like Minnesota.
In a press conference, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labeled the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “war that’s being fought 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 petty, vile administration that doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz
The state's strong criticism highlights the significant division between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying enforcement initiative.
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