Federal immigration enforcement operations swept into Minneapolis and New Orleans this week, igniting a storm of controversy, fear, and political backlash across the nation. The Trump administration’s actions, which began on December 3, 2025, targeted immigrant communities—particularly Somalis in Minnesota and Latinos in Louisiana—against a backdrop of incendiary rhetoric from the White House and mounting pushback from local leaders.
In Minneapolis, uncertainty gripped the city as reports circulated of up to 100 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents preparing to arrest as many as 500 Somali immigrants alleged to be in the country unlawfully. According to Reuters, Minneapolis officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey, said they were not notified of any imminent raids before the operation began. The mayor, a Democrat, vowed that local police would not cooperate with federal agents on immigration enforcement, declaring, “To villainize an entire group is ridiculous under any circumstances.”
Frey’s comments came in response to a New York Times report and were echoed by Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who made an unusual public plea: residents should call 911 if they witnessed masked individuals—possibly ICE agents—“kidnapping” people. O’Hara explained, “We have experienced reports in this city … where people call to say that there’s folks that are masked, that they’re not sure if they’re law enforcement, that they may be kidnapping people. We have had those reports.” He stressed that officers “absolutely have a duty to intervene” if such incidents occurred, underscoring the confusion and anxiety gripping the city.
The scale of the operation and the secrecy surrounding it only heightened tensions. The crackdown followed allegations—reported by several outlets—of widespread fraud within Minnesota’s Department of Human Services, with claims that more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds had been misappropriated. While federal officials cited these reports as justification, critics argued the operation was sweeping and risked ensnaring innocent people, particularly given that most of Minnesota’s 80,000-strong Somali community are U.S. citizens or legal residents. Only 705 Somalis in the state hold Temporary Protected Status (TPS), according to government records.
The White House, meanwhile, ratcheted up its rhetoric. During a Cabinet meeting on December 2, President Donald Trump called Somalis “garbage” and declared, “We don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks.” He also claimed, without evidence, that “Somali gangs” were terrorizing Minnesota and announced the termination of TPS for Somalis living in the state. The president’s words drew swift condemnation from local leaders. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, the city’s first Black mayor, called the remarks “racist” and “xenophobic.” Carter invoked the U.S. Constitution, saying, “Who he attacked is Americans.”
According to NBC News, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insisted that the Minneapolis operation was not specifically targeting Somali immigrants and their families, but acknowledged that some arrests would involve those alleged to have violated immigration laws. Still, the focus on Somali neighborhoods, coupled with the president’s inflammatory language, left many feeling singled out. Community advocates warned that the crackdown could undermine trust in law enforcement and foster a climate of fear, leading to wrongful detentions of lawful residents and U.S. citizens.
“The community should know that if you see something like that, that is legitimate, that you don’t know if someone is law enforcement, you should call 911, and you should provide as much information as possible,” Chief O’Hara reiterated, reflecting the city’s commitment to protecting its residents regardless of their immigration status.
As the operation unfolded in Minnesota, a parallel enforcement effort took shape in New Orleans. The DHS said its focus there was on “criminal aliens roaming free thanks to sanctuary policies that force local authorities to ignore U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest detainers.” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin specified that those targeted included individuals previously arrested for home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto, and rape. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry welcomed the intervention, despite the city being on track for its lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years, according to police data cited by NBC News.
The FBI in New Orleans announced a joint effort with state police to “deter assaults on federal officers and attempts to obstruct law enforcement action” during the immigration operation. But the show of force did little to quell the palpable fear among local immigrants. “We’ve stopped going to work because our fear is that we’ll be stopped,” one Honduran immigrant told Noticias Telemundo, explaining he hadn’t left his home in two weeks. New Orleans resident Rocío Tirado described how she was delivering groceries and paychecks to families too scared to leave their homes, and recounted the emotional toll on children—many of whom skipped soccer practice or school out of fear their parents might be taken away.
The roots of Louisiana’s immigrant population run deep, with significant growth since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when many newcomers—citizens and noncitizens alike—arrived to help rebuild the city. Today, Jefferson Parish’s population is about 19% Hispanic, with the city of Kenner reaching 30%. The enforcement actions, however, have left many feeling unwelcome and under threat.
Back in Minnesota, the operation’s broader impact was felt beyond the Somali community. Mayor Frey argued that the crackdown, combined with the president’s harsh words, risked casting suspicion on all immigrants and eroding the social fabric of the city. “The vast majority of Somalis in the U.S. are American citizens,” he emphasized, “and I’m convinced any immigration action would ensnare people in the country legally.”
Nationally, the Trump administration’s stepped-up enforcement and rhetoric have sparked protests, legal challenges, and a renewed debate over the role of local authorities in immigration matters. While the Department of Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin stated that agents “enforce immigration laws across the country every day,” the visible presence of masked, heavily armed federal officers has left many cities on edge.
As the week drew to a close, the fate of those targeted in the raids remained uncertain. What was clear, however, was the deepening divide between federal authorities and local leaders, and the profound sense of unease within immigrant communities from Minnesota to Louisiana. For many families, the fear of a knock at the door—and the uncertainty of what comes next—has become a daily reality.
The debate over immigration enforcement, the limits of presidential power, and the meaning of American identity is far from settled. But for the thousands affected by this week’s operations, the consequences are immediate, personal, and, for now, unresolved.
