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

Operation Details Announced by Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “surging 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 indicate the federal government is bringing in another two thousand agents, from both ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, into the state for a 30-day period. While the ICE official did not confirm that specific figure, he described it as a combined operation from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but stated it had “increased law enforcement” presence.

Operation Metro Surge and Community Impact

Dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” the agency's enforcement push in Minnesota has been underway since early December. 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, 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 government-produced video of an apprehension in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador wanted 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 misuse of social services. These cases have allegedly drawn the attention of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic 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 suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “investigating these fraud cases”. He praised Secretary Noem for running an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and said the agents were fighting against local non-cooperation 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 “conflict that’s being fought 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 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 condemnation highlights the deep division between state and federal authorities over this intensifying enforcement initiative.