A new wave of federal enforcement has swept across Minnesota, focusing on the state’s Somali community and raising pointed questions about the scope, intent, and impact of recent immigration and financial investigations. In the past two weeks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Treasury Department have intensified operations in the Twin Cities, combining immigration enforcement with probes into financial fraud—moves that have sparked concern among local officials, civil rights advocates, and community members.
It all began on December 1, 2025, with the launch of “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal initiative targeting the Twin Cities and, specifically, Minnesota’s Somali diaspora. According to the Forum News Service, the DHS shared information about recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests online, just a week after the operation began. While the full number of arrests made under the operation remains unclear, ICE has publicly identified at least 19 since its inception.
But the numbers tell a broader story. Since January 20, 2017, ICE has conducted at least 142 arrests across Minnesota, with 28 in Minneapolis, 19 in Rochester, 15 in Sandstone, and several more in cities like Hibbing, St. Paul, Faribault, and Duluth. Of those detained, 51 were reportedly from Mexico, 14 from Somalia, 13 from Honduras, and 7 from El Salvador, based on data from the DHS “Worst of the Worst” database and news releases reviewed by the Forum News Service.
On October 24, 2025, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced at a Minneapolis news conference that federal efforts in Minnesota had resulted in the removal of 4,300 individuals “off of our streets.” By December 10, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reported that DHS had arrested more than 595,000 illegal aliens nationwide since January 20, 2017.
Yet, behind these sweeping figures, local advocates and some public officials say the reality is far more complicated—and troubling. Robyn Meyer-Thompson, staff attorney with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), noted an uptick in what she described as unlawful ICE activity in recent weeks. “We have had, I want to say, at least numerous U.S. citizens who have been calling us, who have been detained by ICE in the Twin Cities—predominantly in Minneapolis, but also other areas—who have been stopped, what appear to be on pretextual stops based on their race,” Meyer-Thompson told Forum News Service. She added that the stops have predominantly involved Black individuals, and that even when documentation of U.S. citizenship is provided, individuals have continued to be questioned and detained by immigration officials.
One such case has drawn particular attention. On December 9, 2025, a U.S. citizen named Mubashir was arrested in Minneapolis during an ICE operation. Despite offering to show his identification, he was tackled by a masked officer while on his lunch break. “I was simply on my lunch break … I wasn’t even outside for mere seconds before I seen a masked person running at me full speed. He tackled me,” Mubashir recounted at a news conference alongside Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “I told him, ‘I’m a U.S. citizen, what is going on?’ He didn’t seem to care. He dragged me outside through the snow while I was handcuffed, restrained, helpless, and he pushed me to the ground and put me in a chokehold.” Mubashir was taken to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling, where he was released after being fingerprinted and photographed. “All I did was step outside as a Somali American,” he said.
These incidents have prompted outrage and calls for accountability. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote to DHS Secretary Noem on December 10, urging her to review the conduct of her agents and reconsider the broader “surge” strategy. “The forcefulness, lack of communication, and unlawful practices displayed by your agents will not be tolerated in Minnesota,” Walz wrote. “I write today with serious concern regarding the multiple arrests of United States citizens during recent ICE operations in Minneapolis.”
Meanwhile, the federal crackdown has extended beyond immigration enforcement. On December 12, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Treasury Department would be ramping up investigations into fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community. According to the Associated Press, the Treasury is now targeting businesses that wire money abroad, requiring additional verification from services sending funds to Somalia. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Internal Revenue Service are also involved in these investigations.
The move comes in the wake of high-profile fraud cases, including the Feeding Our Future scandal, in which a nonprofit was accused of stealing $300 million in pandemic aid meant for school meals. President Donald Trump, who has made disparaging remarks about Minnesota’s Somali community, has claimed the state is “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity,” though, as the Associated Press notes, there is little concrete evidence to support this assertion.
Adding fuel to the fire, a report from the conservative City Journal alleged that taxpayer dollars from defrauded government programs had flowed to al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked militant group in Somalia. However, these claims are based on unnamed sources and remain unsubstantiated; federal prosecutors have not charged any defendants with supporting terrorism.
“Additionally, Treasury personnel are on the ground working hard to uncover the facts,” Bessent said on social media, emphasizing the department’s commitment to rooting out fraud. Yet, the increased scrutiny has left many in the Somali community feeling unfairly targeted and stigmatized.
Jill Garvey, executive director of States at the Core, a group facilitating ICE Watch training across the U.S., sees the situation in Minnesota as part of a broader national trend. “We’re also seeing some of the same troubling behavior,” Garvey told Forum News Service, referencing the use of chemical weapons against community members and what she described as a “really aggressive escalation of federal law enforcement, without a lot of justification.” ICE Watch, she explained, trains people to document law enforcement activities and support those targeted by federal operations.
There are also logistical and humanitarian concerns. Meyer-Thompson reported that some detainees are being transferred out of state to Iowa shortly after arrest, complicating legal communications and access to necessary medications. “It’s just been particularly challenging to have communications with clients when they’re suddenly moved,” she said.
Further complicating matters are conflicting reports about the criminal backgrounds of those arrested. While all individuals listed in the new DHS arrest database are alleged to have criminal histories, Meyer-Thompson noted that most callers to the ILCM detention line do not have significant criminal records. The Rochester Post Bulletin found that of the 18 people arrested in Rochester, eight were solely charged with illegal re-entry, despite other charges listed by DHS.
Federal officials, for their part, claim a dramatic rise in assaults against officers—citing a 1,150% increase during arrests. However, Garvey contends that “most of these accusations are actually unfounded and proved to be untrue,” suggesting that such claims may be an attempt to control the narrative around these controversial operations.
As the investigations continue and the community grapples with the fallout, one thing is clear: Minnesota has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration, enforcement, and the balance between security and civil rights. The coming weeks will test not only the resolve of federal agencies, but also the resilience and unity of the communities caught in the crossfire.
