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The national administration has deployed a fresh wave of immigration officials to Minnesota, marking an escalation in its rhetoric and actions against the region and its sizable immigrant communities.

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, apprehend perpetrators and remove criminal illegal aliens”. The acting director 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”.

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

Reports suggest the federal government is bringing in another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a one-month period. While Lyons did not confirm that specific figure, he called it a combined operation from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but acknowledged it had “increased law enforcement” presence.

The Crackdown Effort and Community Impact

Dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” the federal enforcement push in the state has been underway since the start of last month. In reaction, community members have fought back against ICE, organizing protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly avoided public life, forgoing trips to grocery stores or medical care due to apprehension of being detained.

The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground 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 home country.

Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Comments

This fixation on Minnesota comes while the state is grappling 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 specifically about Somalis. Notably, Minnesota is home to the biggest 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 praised Secretary Noem for leading an “highly effective operation” in Minneapolis and framed the effort as fighting against local non-cooperation policies in places like Minnesota.

State Leadership Response

In a public statement, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labeled the federal surge “ridiculous” and part of a “war that’s being waged against Minnesota”.

“In my view, any state government in history has had to battle 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 is indifferent to the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The governor's strong condemnation underscores the significant political rift between state and federal authorities over this intensifying enforcement initiative.