The Trump administration is set to commence a major immigration enforcement operation that will primarily target hundreds of undocumented Somali immigrants residing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. This initiative has been confirmed by an official familiar with the operation, along with documents obtained by The New York Times. The timing of this operation coincides with President Trump’s increasing focus on the Somali community in the United States, where he has employed increasingly inflammatory rhetoric against them.
The escalation in the administration's rhetoric comes in the aftermath of a violent incident involving two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Despite the fact that the individual suspected in this attack is an Afghan national, President Trump has intensified his comments regarding Somalis. Following these remarks, the directive for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas was issued.
Beginning this week, the enforcement initiative will focus primarily on Somalis who have final deportation orders and are currently living in the Twin Cities area. However, the operation may also encompass individuals who are still in the process of seeking legal status. An official, who requested to remain anonymous, provided insights into the ongoing operation, highlighting the potential broad scope of the enforcement actions.
The plan for this immigration operation includes the deployment of specialized strike teams. These teams will consist of ICE officers, agents, and other federal officials, with approximately 100 officers and agents brought in from various locations across the country to support this initiative. The collaborative effort aims to strengthen the enforcement of immigration laws in the region, particularly targeting the undocumented Somali population.
This operation highlights the Trump administration's ongoing commitment to strict immigration enforcement, particularly within communities that have been the focus of recent political discourse. As this operation unfolds, it will undoubtedly have significant implications for the Somali immigrant community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.