President Donald Trump unleashed new ICE strike teams in Minnesota after the deadly shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., escalating his crackdown on illegal immigration and intensifying pressure on Somali communities in the state.
The shooting involved two National Guard troops who were allegedly gunned down by an Afghan national just steps from the White House.
Less than a week later, the administration launched a major deportation effort focused on illegal Somali migrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, according to the New York Times.
The president has repeatedly accused Minnesota Democrats of allowing Somali migration to spiral out of control.
He has attacked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) while warning that Somali refugees are “completely taking over” Minnesota.
The new directive focuses on Somalis with final deportation orders living in the Twin Cities. Officials also said that migrants seeking legal status could be included in the sweep, heightening concerns within the community.
ICE strike teams, composed of DHS agents and federal officers, are being deployed across the region. Around 100 officers from across the U.S. have been sent to Minnesota for the operation.
Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin declined to address specifics, saying DHS does not discuss “future or potential operations.” She added that ICE targets individuals who are in the country illegally, not people based on race or ethnicity.
Minnesota has been rocked by a sprawling fraud scandal involving individuals within Somali communities. Authorities say more than $1 billion intended for children, the homeless and autism therapy was stolen through bogus service providers, according to the Daily Mail.
Federal prosecutors have charged 86 people over the last five years, with 59 convictions so far across multiple schemes. One of the largest cases involved the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which claimed to serve tens of thousands of meals during the pandemic.
Prosecutors allege the meals never existed and the money was funneled into luxury homes, jewelry, cars and overseas real estate.
Federal prosecutor Joseph H. Thompson said Minnesotans are losing faith in their social programs. He warned that continued fraud would destroy public support for the very systems designed to help vulnerable residents.
ICE has also launched deportation operations in Washington, D.C. and Chicago as part of the broader nationwide crackdown.
President Donald Trump blasted Walz for allowing Minnesota to become “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and said the perpetrators should be “sent back to where they came from.” He added that he plans to revoke temporary protected status for roughly 700 Somali nationals, clearing the way for broader deportations.
Walz defended his administration’s pandemic-era programs by saying they prioritized speed and access. He admitted criminals exploited the system but argued the programs were designed to improve lives, not enable fraud.
