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The federal government has deployed a fresh wave of immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota, marking an intensification in its campaign and rhetoric against the state and its immigrant communities.

Federal Surge Announced by Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to eradicate fraud, apprehend perpetrators and deport criminal undocumented individuals”. The acting director 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”.

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

News accounts suggest the administration is sending another two thousand agents, from both ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, into the state for a one-month period. While Lyons did not confirm that specific figure, he described it as a joint effort from both agencies. DHS declined to specify a number but stated it had “increased law enforcement” presence.

The Crackdown Effort and Local Fallout

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the federal crackdown in Minnesota has been underway since early December. In response, community members have pushed 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 apprehension of being apprehended.

The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is seen in a government-produced video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his home country.

Broader Backdrop: Fraud Allegations 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 resulted in anti-immigrant comments from him specifically about Somalis. It is worth noting, 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 “conducting visits” to businesses allegedly hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He commended Secretary Noem for running an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and said the agents were fighting against sanctuary policies in places like Minnesota.

State Leadership Response

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

“In my view, any 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 doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's forceful criticism highlights the deep division between state and federal authorities over this escalating crackdown.