The largest federal immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history has descended upon Minneapolis, with nearly 2,000 agents targeting what authorities describe as a nexus of fraud and illegal immigration that has cost taxpayers billions.
Story Snapshot
- Up to 2,000 federal agents from ICE, HSI, and Border Patrol deployed to Minneapolis for unprecedented 30-day immigration crackdown
- Operation targets massive welfare fraud schemes totaling billions in losses, particularly in Somali-American communities
- Deployment follows Operation Metro Surge that netted nearly 700 arrests in late 2025
- Minnesota officials push back as DHS freezes $185 million in childcare funding amid fraud investigations
The Scale Defies Precedent
The numbers alone tell the story of federal frustration with Minnesota. This deployment equals Arizona’s entire HSI workforce converging on a single metropolitan area. Commander Gregory Bovino, who previously led major operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte, now oversees what federal sources describe as making Minneapolis “the new Chicago” for immigration enforcement. The 30-day surge involves rotating teams of up to 600 HSI agents and 1,500 ICE officers through the Twin Cities.
Federal officials justify this massive resource allocation by pointing to Minnesota’s staggering fraud problem. Since 2021, over 90 individuals have faced charges in connection with the Feeding Our Future scandal alone, where nutrition aid programs hemorrhaged billions in fraudulent claims. The state has become ground zero for what investigators describe as sophisticated transnational crime networks exploiting pandemic-era program vulnerabilities.
Fraud Networks Fuel Federal Response
The timing of this operation connects directly to escalating fraud investigations across Minneapolis. Last month, federal inspections swept through dozens of sites, while viral social media content alleged widespread abuse in Somali-run childcare centers. Though state inspections rejected these specific claims, the underlying pattern of massive program losses provided political ammunition for the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the surge focuses on what she termed “murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members,” while also pursuing fraud recovery. The administration has already reported over 1,000 arrests nationwide of high-risk individuals since the operation began. However, community advocates like CAIR-Minnesota’s Jaylani Hussein warn that legitimate program users face stigmatization through broad-brush enforcement tactics.
State Resistance Meets Federal Determination
Minnesota’s Democratic leadership finds itself in an impossible position. Governor Tim Walz, fresh from his role as the 2024 vice presidential nominee, has pushed back against characterizations of systemic state-level failures while announcing he won’t seek a third term. His administration points to audits, a new fraud prevention council, and hiring a program integrity director as evidence of good-faith reform efforts.
Yet federal actions suggest these measures fall short of Washington’s expectations. The DHS decision to freeze $185 million in childcare funding demonstrates how fraud investigations now override state autonomy in program administration. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s presence in the Twin Cities during the crackdown signals broader Republican state support for aggressive federal intervention, regardless of local political preferences.
Communities Caught in the Crossfire
The human cost of this operation extends far beyond those directly targeted for deportation. Somali-American communities, already facing scrutiny from fraud investigations, now navigate heightened fear as federal agents canvass neighborhoods and businesses. Protests have erupted as families worry about separation, while legitimate childcare providers struggle with frozen funding that serves thousands of children.
The broader implications stretch well beyond Minnesota’s borders. This operation establishes precedent for urban immigration surges that combine deportation enforcement with fraud recovery missions. If successful in recovering significant funds while generating substantial deportations, the Minneapolis model could expand to other metropolitan areas where federal programs face similar abuse allegations. The message seems clear: states that cannot or will not address fraud and immigration violations simultaneously will face federal intervention on an unprecedented scale.
Sources:
CBS News – Minneapolis Federal Agents Crackdown
TRT World – Federal Immigration Operation
MPR News – Noem Twin Cities Immigration Crackdown
