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The national administration has dispatched a fresh wave of immigration enforcement agents to the state of Minnesota, marking an escalation in its campaign and rhetoric against the state and its immigrant communities.

Federal Surge Announced by Homeland Security

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

“Our agency has the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now.” – Todd Lyons, ICE Acting Director

Reports suggest the federal government is sending another 2,000 agents, from both ICE and HSI, into the state for a one-month period. While Lyons did not confirm that specific figure, he called it a joint effort from both agencies. DHS declined to specify a number but acknowledged it had “increased law enforcement” resources.

Operation Metro Surge and Community Impact

Dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” the federal enforcement push in the state has been ongoing since early December. In reaction, community members have pushed back against ICE, organizing protests and attempting to block deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly stayed away from public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to apprehension of being apprehended.

The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, is believed to be on the ground in the state. She is featured in a government-produced video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his home country.

Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Rhetoric

This fixation on Minnesota occurs as the state is grappling with several prominent cases alleging fraud of social services. These cases have reportedly drawn the attention of former President Trump and led to anti-immigrant comments from him targeting Somalis. It is worth noting, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., and the majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.

Lyons further stated that officers have been “conducting visits” to businesses 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 local non-cooperation policies in places like Minnesota.

Governor's Rebuke

In a public statement, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the federal surge “outrageous” and part of a “war 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 petty, vile administration that doesn’t care about the well being of Minnesotans.” – Governor Tim Walz

The state's forceful condemnation highlights the significant political rift between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying crackdown.