Federal immigration authorities are preparing a targeted enforcement operation in Minnesota, with a primary focus on Somali immigrants living in the United States without legal status, according to a source familiar with the planning. The move comes as President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of the state's sizable Somali community.
Operation Details and Escalating Rhetoric
The operation, which could launch imminently, is expected to concentrate on individuals in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area who have final orders of deportation. Teams from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are planned to conduct what was described as a directed, high-priority sweep across the Twin Cities, though plans remain fluid. The source indicated that hundreds of people could be targeted.
This prospect is set against a backdrop of increasingly harsh language from the Trump administration. At a Cabinet meeting on December 2, 2025, President Trump stated, "They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country." He added that Somali immigrants are overly reliant on social programs. This follows his recent claims that immigrants from Somalia were "completely taking over" Minnesota and that they have "caused a lot of trouble."
Local Pushback and Community Impact
In swift response, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared that the city's police force, which includes many Somali officers, will not assist federal agents with immigration enforcement. "It’s not their job," Frey said, warning that such targeting leads to due process violations and the detention of American citizens based solely on their appearance.
Community leaders echoed these concerns. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), emphasized that approximately 95% of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens, with an estimated half born in the country. He called the reported crackdown "political rhetoric and an attack against our community" that also pressures other immigrant groups.
Administration Justifications and Broader Context
The administration's focus appears linked to allegations, reported by the conservative outlet City Journal, that fraudulently obtained taxpayer funds from government programs may have reached the Somali militant group al-Shabab. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated his agency is investigating these claims.
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin declined to discuss potential operations but stated, "What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally." The operation was first reported by The New York Times.
The source noted that, as with past operations, "incidental arrests" are possible—where individuals not on the target list but lacking legal status could be detained if encountered.
This planned enforcement follows the Trump administration's recent termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali migrants, a program that a recent report indicated covered just 705 individuals nationwide. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice-presidential candidate, criticized the administration's approach, stating that demonizing an entire population is "beneath that."
