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

Federal Surge Confirmed by DHS

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that it is “deploying additional forces to Minneapolis to root out fraud, apprehend perpetrators and remove criminal undocumented individuals”. The acting director 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”.

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

News accounts indicate the administration is bringing in another two thousand agents, from both ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, into the state for a one-month period. While the ICE official did not verify that specific figure, he called it a joint effort from both agencies. DHS would not confirm a number but acknowledged it had “surged law enforcement” resources.

The Crackdown Effort and Local Fallout

Dubbed “Metro Surge,” the federal crackdown in the state has been ongoing since early December. In response, local residents have fought back against ICE, organizing protests and impeding deportations. Meanwhile, some immigrants have allegedly stayed away from public life, skipping trips to grocery stores or medical care due to fear of being detained.

The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, appears to be personally involved in the state. She is seen in a government-produced video of an arrest in Minneapolis of a man from Ecuador sought for murder in his nation of origin.

Political Context: High-Profile Cases and Rhetoric

This focus on Minnesota occurs as the state is grappling with several high-profile 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 specifically about Somalis. It is worth noting, Minnesota is home to the biggest Somali population in the U.S., and the majority of Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens.

Lyons added that officers have been “going door to door” to companies suspected of hiring undocumented people and that some agents would be “looking at these fraud cases”. He commended Secretary Noem for running an “highly effective operation” in Minneapolis and said the agents were fighting against sanctuary policies in places like Minnesota.

State Leadership Response

In a public statement, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labeled the federal surge “outrageous” and part of a “conflict that’s being fought against Minnesota”.

“I don’t think 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 forceful condemnation highlights the significant division between Minnesota and Washington authorities over this intensifying crackdown.