WASHINGTON (AP) - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday the initiation of the largest immigration enforcement operation in its history, deploying 2,000 federal agents and officers primarily in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. This operation is partly in response to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.
DHS characterized the operation as unprecedented, indicating a significant increase in federal law enforcement activity in Minnesota amid rising political and community tensions. The announcement emphasized that approximately 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and officers would target the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, as confirmed by a U.S. official and a source briefed on the details who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the operation.
Reports from immigrant rights groups and elected officials in the Twin Cities noted heightened federal agent activity, particularly around St. Paul, with numerous sightings of agents conducting traffic stops and approaching area businesses and residential buildings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem participated in on-the-ground enforcement, including accompanying ICE officers during arrests. A video showcased Noem in tactical gear, confronting a handcuffed man from Ecuador, who was wanted on multiple charges, including murder and sexual assault.
In an official statement, DHS reported the arrest of 150 individuals during enforcement activities on Monday in Minneapolis. Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, publicly criticized the federal government's surge as a "war against Minnesota," expressing concerns about the deployment of 2,000 federal agents without coordination with local authorities, which he perceived as primarily for media show.
Community leaders indicated residents were already anxious given the Trump administration's historical focus on the local Somali community, the largest in the U.S. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara had previously condemned the tactics employed by federal agents as "questionable" following confrontations with protesters. St. Paul City Council member Molly Coleman described Tuesday's events as "unlike any other day we’ve experienced," expressing that the arrival of ICE agents instills fear in the community.
Julia Decker, the policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, confirmed an uptick in sightings of federal agents engaged in enforcement activities, while activist Dieu Do reported a significantly heavier presence of enforcement vehicles in various locations, such as parking lots.
The federal operation is reportedly composed of around 75% personnel from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, which handles immigration arrests and deportations. Additionally, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are involved, focusing on fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices. HSI is conducting door-to-door investigations in the Twin Cities area, particularly targeting suspected cases of fraud.
The operation is also supported by personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, whose past operations in different cities have come under scrutiny from local officials and civil rights advocates. As the operation unfolds, its scope and duration are expected to evolve.
In a related development, Hilton Hotels announced on Tuesday it would remove a Minnesota hotel from its systems for canceling reservations made by federal agents, stating that the hotel failed to meet their standards and values. The Hampton Inn Lakeville, located about 20 miles from Minneapolis, had previously apologized for its actions but is now under scrutiny following Hilton's decision.
Late last year, federal authorities began increasing immigration arrests in the Minneapolis area, with Secretary Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel signaling this intensified focus on immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has consistently linked his administration's efforts to tackle immigration issues in Minnesota with ongoing fraud cases that often involve defendants with ties to the Somali community.
