WASHINGTON (RTW) — The Trump administration has launched a sweeping immigration enforcement operation, deploying as many as 2,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis area, described as the largest such operation in U.S. history.
This operation, which commenced over the weekend, is particularly focused on allegations of fraud involving Somali residents, significantly expanding the federal law enforcement presence in Minnesota amid rising political and community tensions.
Approximately 75% of the personnel will come from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, responsible for carrying out immigration arrests and deportations. This operation will also see agents from Homeland Security Investigations focusing on fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices in the Twin Cities.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons stated this is the largest immigration operation ever, while not specifying the exact number of officers involved. HSI agents are currently visiting households in the area to investigate allegations.
Among those detained are individuals wanted for severe crimes, such as murder and sexual assault, as outlined by the DHS, which has yet to disclose specific numbers regarding arrests made during this operation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to oversee some of the apprehensions, appearing in a video where she emphasized accountability for crimes committed.
The operation not only aims at tackling fraud but also aims to address broader immigration law violations, with over 1,000 arrests reportedly tied to serious criminal offenses, reinforcing the Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration and crime, particularly among communities with high immigrant populations.
This development follows a trend of escalating immigration arrests in the Minneapolis area, with significant focus on cases involving alleged misuse of federal aid programs linked to the Somali community. The operation’s scope and duration are expected to evolve in the coming days, raising concerns and scrutiny over the civil rights implications of such a large-scale enforcement initiative.
This operation, which commenced over the weekend, is particularly focused on allegations of fraud involving Somali residents, significantly expanding the federal law enforcement presence in Minnesota amid rising political and community tensions.
Approximately 75% of the personnel will come from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, responsible for carrying out immigration arrests and deportations. This operation will also see agents from Homeland Security Investigations focusing on fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices in the Twin Cities.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons stated this is the largest immigration operation ever, while not specifying the exact number of officers involved. HSI agents are currently visiting households in the area to investigate allegations.
Among those detained are individuals wanted for severe crimes, such as murder and sexual assault, as outlined by the DHS, which has yet to disclose specific numbers regarding arrests made during this operation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to oversee some of the apprehensions, appearing in a video where she emphasized accountability for crimes committed.
The operation not only aims at tackling fraud but also aims to address broader immigration law violations, with over 1,000 arrests reportedly tied to serious criminal offenses, reinforcing the Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration and crime, particularly among communities with high immigrant populations.
This development follows a trend of escalating immigration arrests in the Minneapolis area, with significant focus on cases involving alleged misuse of federal aid programs linked to the Somali community. The operation’s scope and duration are expected to evolve in the coming days, raising concerns and scrutiny over the civil rights implications of such a large-scale enforcement initiative.
