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The national administration has deployed additional immigration enforcement agents to the state of Minnesota, marking an escalation in its rhetoric and actions against the region and its sizable immigrant communities.

Federal Surge Confirmed by DHS

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to root out fraud, apprehend perpetrators and remove criminal illegal aliens”. The top official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, stated to a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the biggest immigration operation ever taking place right now”.

“We have the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director

Reports suggest the administration is bringing in another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a one-month period. While Lyons did not verify that specific figure, he called it a combined operation from both agencies. DHS declined to specify a number but stated it had “surged law enforcement” presence.

Operation Metro Surge and Local Fallout

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the agency's crackdown in the state has been underway since early December. In reaction, community members have fought back against ICE, organizing protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly avoided public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to fear of being apprehended.

The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is seen in a DHS video of an apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his home country.

Broader Backdrop: 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 allegedly drawn the attention of former President Trump and resulted in anti-immigrant comments from him targeting Somalis. Notably, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., and the vast majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.

Lyons added that officers have been “going door to door” to businesses 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 said the agents were fighting against sanctuary policies in places like Minnesota.

State Leadership Response

In a public statement, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “conflict that’s being fought 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 doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The governor's forceful criticism underscores the significant political rift between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this escalating crackdown.