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The federal government has deployed a fresh wave of immigration officials to Minnesota, representing an escalation in its rhetoric and actions targeting the state and its immigrant communities.

Operation Details Confirmed by Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to root out fraud, arrest 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 Official

Reports suggest the administration is sending another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a 30-day period. While the ICE official did not confirm 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” resources.

The Crackdown Effort and Community Impact

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the agency's crackdown in Minnesota has been ongoing since early December. In response, local residents have pushed back against ICE, organizing 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 homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is seen in a government-produced video of an arrest 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 high-profile cases alleging misuse of social services. These cases have reportedly captured the focus of former President Trump and led to xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. It is worth noting, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., and the majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.

Lyons added that officers have been “conducting visits” to businesses allegedly hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “investigating these fraud cases”. He commended Secretary Noem for leading an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and framed the effort as fighting against sanctuary policies in places like Minnesota.

Governor's Rebuke

In a press conference, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “conflict that’s being fought against Minnesota”.

“In my view, any government in history has had to fight a war 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 doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's strong criticism underscores the significant division between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying crackdown.