President Donald Trump has initiated a significant deportation operation in Minnesota, focusing on illegal Somali migrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. This action follows the tragic shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. by an Afghan national near the White House. The administration's response escalates an already robust crackdown on illegal immigration and increases the scrutiny on Somali communities within the state.
The shootings, which have shocked and saddened the nation, occurred just days before President Trump directed his administration's enforcement efforts towards individuals with final deportation orders. According to reports from the New York Times, about 100 officers from various parts of the United States have been deployed to Minnesota as part of these newly formed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) strike teams. These teams consist of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and federal officers.
President Trump has been vocal about his concerns with Somali migration in Minnesota, specifically criticizing state Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar, for what he perceives as a failure to manage the influx. He has gone so far as to claim that Somali refugees are "completely taking over" the state—a statement that has been met with controversy and concern.
The recent directive from the President not only targets those with final deportation orders but also suggests that migrants seeking legal status might be swept up in the operations, causing anxiety within the Somali community. Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin has stated that while DHS does not comment on potential operations, ICE's focus is on individuals who are in the country illegally, not on race or ethnicity.
Minnesota's Somali communities have also been at the center of a vast fraud scandal. Federal authorities have indicated that over $1 billion, earmarked for programs aimed at aiding children, the homeless, and individuals requiring autism therapy, was misappropriated through fraudulent service providers. The Daily Mail reported that 86 people have been charged, with 59 convictions to date. One of the highest-profile cases involved the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which was implicated in a scheme alleging nonexistent meal services during the pandemic.
Federal prosecutor Joseph H. Thompson has expressed concerns that these fraud cases are eroding Minnesotans' trust in social programs. He emphasized that if these fraudulent activities persist, they could undermine the public's support for systems intended to assist those in need.
As part of a broader nationwide initiative, similar ICE operations have taken place in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. President Trump has remained firm in his stance, asserting that Governor Walz has allowed Minnesota to become "a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity" and stating that those responsible should be "sent back to where they came from." The President has also announced the end of temporary protected status for approximately 700 Somali nationals, which could pave the way for more extensive deportations.
In response, Governor Walz has defended his administration's approach during the pandemic, acknowledging that while some criminals exploited the system, the intent of the programs was to enhance the quality of life for residents, not to facilitate fraud.
