Federal agents have arrested a dozen individuals in Minneapolis since launching an enforcement operation this week, primarily targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in the U.S. However, less than half of those detained are Somali.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), twelve people were arrested, including six Mexican nationals, five Somalis, and one individual from El Salvador.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul area, which hosts the largest Somali community in the United States, is part of a broader crackdown initiated by the Trump administration following similar operations in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Authorities have indicated an intention to arrest up to 5,000 individuals in New Orleans.
ICE characterized the twelve arrests as involving some of the “worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” with eight having previous charges or convictions for crimes such as assault, fraud, domestic violence, and DUI.
President Trump has recently made derogatory remarks about Somali immigrants, calling them “garbage” and claiming they offer nothing to society, while also criticizing Democratic Governor Tim Walz for alleged failures in oversight that he links to fraudulent activities involving Somali Americans.
This enforcement action has triggered considerable backlash from local and state leaders, who have condemned Trump's comments and pledged to defend the community. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced that city police would not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. In response, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, accused Frey and Walz of jeopardizing public safety by not enforcing immigration laws.
