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

Operation Details Announced 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 deport 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 operation ever taking place right now”.

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

News accounts indicate the federal government is bringing in 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 combined operation 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 Minnesota has been underway since the start of last month. In response, local residents have pushed back against ICE, engaging in protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly stayed away from public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to fear of being detained.

The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, appears to be personally involved in the state. She is featured in a DHS video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his nation of origin.

Political Context: Fraud Allegations and Rhetoric

This fixation on Minnesota occurs as the state is dealing with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have reportedly drawn 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 added that officers have been “conducting visits” to businesses suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He praised Secretary Noem for running 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 “outrageous” and part of a “war that’s being fought against Minnesota”.

“In my view, any state 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 spiteful, malicious administration that is indifferent to the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's strong criticism highlights the significant division between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying enforcement initiative.