Federal immigration authorities are finalizing preparations for a targeted enforcement operation in Minnesota specifically focusing on Somali immigrants residing unlawfully in the United States. According to sources familiar with the planning, the operation—potentially launching within days—will concentrate on individuals in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who have received final deportation orders.
The planned sweep emerges amid escalating rhetoric from former President Donald Trump regarding Minnesota’s Somali community. During a recent Cabinet meeting, Trump stated, “They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country,” adding that “Their country is no good for a reason.” These comments have intensified community tensions and raised concerns about racial profiling.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has declared that city police will not assist federal agents with immigration enforcement, stating that targeting Somalis would inevitably lead to due process violations and the detention of American citizens based solely on appearance. Homeland Security officials declined to comment on potential operations but emphasized that enforcement targets are based solely on immigration status, not ethnicity.
The operation reportedly aims to apprehend hundreds of individuals, though officials acknowledge that “incidental arrests” of undocumented immigrants not specifically targeted may occur during the sweep. Community leaders note that approximately 95% of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens, with about half born in the United States, making the actual population vulnerable to deportation relatively small.
The Trump administration’s increased focus on Somali immigrants follows allegations from conservative media that taxpayer dollars from defrauded government programs may have flowed to the Somali militant group al-Shabab. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced an investigation into these claims, blaming “feckless mismanagement” by the Biden administration and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Community representatives characterize the planned operation as political rhetoric and an attack against the Muslim community, warning that increased ICE presence will create additional pressure on all immigrant communities, including Hispanic and other African populations.