🔗 Share this article The Former President's Administration Escalates Crackdown on Minnesota with Additional Immigration Agents The federal government has dispatched a fresh wave of immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota, representing an intensification in its campaign and rhetoric against the region and its sizable immigrant populations. Operation Details Confirmed by DHS The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “surging to Minneapolis to root out fraud, arrest perpetrators and remove criminal illegal aliens”. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, stated to a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the biggest immigration operation ever underway right now”. “Our agency has the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director 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 joint effort from both agencies. DHS declined to specify a number but acknowledged it had “surged law enforcement” presence. The Crackdown Effort and Local Fallout Dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” the agency's crackdown in the state has been underway since the start of last month. In response, community members have fought 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 fear of being detained. The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, appears to be personally involved in the state. She is seen in a DHS video of an apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador wanted for murder in his home country. Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Comments This fixation on Minnesota comes while the state is dealing with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have reportedly captured the attention of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. It is worth noting, 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 further stated that officers have been “conducting visits” to businesses suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “investigating these fraud cases”. He praised 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 press conference, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labeled the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “war that’s being waged against Minnesota”. “I don’t think any state government in history has had to fight a war 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 is indifferent to the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz The governor's forceful condemnation highlights the deep division between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying crackdown.