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The federal government has dispatched a fresh wave of immigration officials to Minnesota, marking an intensification in its rhetoric and actions against the region and its sizable immigrant populations.

Federal Surge Announced by DHS

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to root out fraud, arrest perpetrators and remove 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 crackdown ever taking place right now”.

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

News accounts indicate the administration is bringing in another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a one-month period. While the ICE official did not verify that specific figure, he called it a joint effort from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but acknowledged it had “surged law enforcement” presence.

Operation Metro Surge and Local Fallout

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the agency's crackdown in the state has been ongoing since the start of last month. In reaction, community members have fought back against ICE, engaging in protests and attempting to block deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have reportedly avoided public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to apprehension 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 apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador wanted for murder in his home country.

Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Rhetoric

This fixation on Minnesota comes while the state is grappling with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have allegedly captured the focus of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. It is worth noting, 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 further stated that officers have been “going door to door” to companies suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “investigating these fraud cases”. He praised Secretary Noem for leading an “highly effective operation” in Minneapolis and framed the effort as 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 waged against Minnesota”.

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

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