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The national administration has dispatched additional immigration officials to the state of Minnesota, representing an escalation in its rhetoric and actions targeting the state and its immigrant populations.

Federal Surge Confirmed by DHS

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed on social media that it is “surging to Minneapolis to eradicate fraud, apprehend perpetrators and remove criminal illegal aliens”. The top official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, told a news outlet that the agency has in the city “the largest immigration crackdown ever underway right now”.

“We have the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, ICE Official

News accounts indicate the administration is bringing in another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a one-month period. While Lyons did not verify that specific figure, he described it as a joint effort from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but acknowledged it had “surged law enforcement” resources.

Operation Metro Surge and Community Impact

Dubbed “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, engaging in protests and attempting to block deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have reportedly avoided public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to fear of being detained.

The top DHS official, Kristi Noem, appears to be on the ground in the state. She is seen 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 focus on Minnesota comes while the state is dealing with several high-profile cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have allegedly captured the attention of former President Trump and resulted in xenophobic comments from him targeting Somalis. It is worth noting, 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 companies allegedly hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He commended Secretary Noem for running an “awesome, successful operation” in Minneapolis and said the agents were fighting against sanctuary policies in places like Minnesota.

Governor's Rebuke

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

“In my view, any government in history has had to battle 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 doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's strong condemnation highlights the deep political rift between state and federal authorities over this intensifying enforcement initiative.