Federal agents have made a significant move in Minneapolis, arresting a dozen individuals as part of an enforcement operation targeting immigrants living in the U.S. unlawfully. Interestingly, while the operation ostensibly focused on the city's large Somali community, less than half of those taken into custody were Somali.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), of the twelve individuals arrested this week, six were Mexican nationals, five were Somali, and one was from El Salvador. This raid forms part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration aimed at mass deportations, following similar operations in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The local ICE office asserted that the detainees included some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, with a majority of them facing criminal charges for serious offenses such as assault, fraud, and domestic violence.
The discussion surrounding the crackdown has intensified recently, following public comments from President Trump who singled out Somali immigrants, labeling them as garbage and accusing them of being unproductive members of society. He also criticized Minnesota's Democratic Governor, Tim Walz, for allegedly allowing fraud in government programs linked to the Somali community, suggesting these funds were diverted to a Somali militant group.
Local leaders have pushed back against these federal actions. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has pledged that city police will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts, emphasizing the city's commitment to protecting its Somali residents. In contrast, federal officials, including DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, have accused Frey and Walz of disregarding immigration laws, claiming their stance puts citizens at risk.
The conflict between local authorities and federal agencies continues to escalate as the community awaits the outcomes of these enforcement operations.
