A massive federal immigration enforcement operation has erupted across Minnesota after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a series of armed raids targeting Somali nationals with active federal warrants, prior deportation orders, and criminal convictions. The high-risk operation has sent political shockwaves through the Twin Cities and ignited fierce backlash from local Democratic leaders and activist groups — even as federal officials defend the crackdown as a matter of national security and public safety.
The coordinated raids began over the weekend and have continued into this week, with roughly 100 federal agents deployed from across the country. According to reporting from The Post Millennial, the operation has already resulted in multiple arrests, including suspects who allegedly attempted to flee or violently resist law enforcement.
The enforcement action has centered on neighborhoods in Minneapolis and surrounding areas that are widely known as part of “Somali-land Minnesota,” a region with one of the largest Somali immigrant populations in the United States.
Violent Resistance and “Collateral Arrests” During Raids
According to sources briefed on the operation, at least one male suspect allegedly assaulted federal officers during an arrest attempt before being taken into custody. In another case, a previously deported woman allegedly fled into a residence in an effort to avoid capture. Authorities then made multiple “collateral arrests” inside the location.
Exclusive video obtained by journalists shows armed, masked federal officers moving door to door, conducting operations in the early morning hours. The footage has since gone viral, sending fear and confusion through local communities while igniting outrage among progressive activists.
Federal officials have emphasized that every target had an active federal warrant, final removal order, or serious criminal history, dismissing claims that the raids were random or indiscriminate.
Minneapolis Police Chief Confirms Federal Agents — But Was Kept in the Dark
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the masked individuals seen detaining residents were in fact federal immigration officers, not local law enforcement. However, he stunned the city by admitting that Minneapolis police were never briefed on the operation.
“If there is anything that is a violation of someone’s human rights or civil rights — excessive force or anything like that — officers have a duty to intervene,” O’Hara said.
He urged residents to call 911 if they encounter unidentified law enforcement activity, adding to confusion as federal agents continue moving through the city with no coordination with local police.
Mayor Frey: “We Will Not Participate in ICE Raids”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey immediately condemned the operation, reaffirming the city’s sanctuary policies and rejecting all cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“We do not and will not participate in ICE raids,” Frey stated at a press conference. “These actions are deeply concerning.”
Frey emphasized that Minneapolis police are legally barred from assisting ICE with civil immigration enforcement, echoing long-standing Democratic policy across much of Minnesota.
Critics argue that these sanctuary policies create dangerous enforcement gaps that allow criminals to evade federal authorities — forcing ICE to conduct armed solo operations rather than coordinated arrests with local police.
Raids Erupt Amid $250 Million Somali COVID-Fraud Scandal
The enforcement actions come at a politically explosive moment for Minnesota’s Somali community. Federal prosecutors are currently pursuing one of the largest COVID-relief fraud cases in U.S. history, involving an estimated $250 million stolen from a federal program designed to feed low-income children during the pandemic.
According to federal indictments, large portions of that money were allegedly funneled overseas, with investigators confirming that some funds may have reached al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based terror group linked to al-Qaeda.
Federal officials stressed that the ICE raids are not directly related to the COVID-fraud investigation. However, homeland security sources acknowledged that overlapping criminal networks have forced coordination between immigration enforcement, financial crimes units, and counterterrorism task forces.
That overlap has only intensified scrutiny on Minnesota’s enforcement policies.
Ilhan Omar Sparks Firestorm With “Victim” Comments
The political backlash intensified after Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) weighed in publicly during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation. Omar suggested that members of the Somali community — not taxpayers — were the true victims of the scandal.
“We are also taxpayers in Minnesota,” Omar said. “Our community is being portrayed as perpetrators rather than victims.”
When pressed by host Margaret Brennan about the potential terror-financing connection, Omar responded:
“If that is the case, we want to know, and we want those people prosecuted.”
Her remarks triggered immediate outrage from Republicans and law enforcement officials, who accused her of minimizing the seriousness of the alleged terror links and attempting to deflect responsibility.
Explosive Financial Disclosure Adds Fuel to the Fire
Adding to the political tension, congressional financial disclosures revealed that Ilhan Omar’s net worth surged nearly 3,500 percent last year, jumping from roughly $51,000 to as much as $30 million.
The dramatic increase reportedly stemmed largely from her husband Tim Mynett’s investments in a California winery and a Washington, D.C.-based venture-capital firm.
Omar has forcefully denied any wrongdoing, calling the reports “a coordinated right-wing disinformation campaign.” However, watchdog groups say the timing of the financial windfall — coinciding with massive federal investigations in her district — raises new ethics questions.
https://twitter.com/KatieDaviscourt/status/1997745591032713531
ICE: Minnesota Has One of the Highest Concentrations of Deportation-Eligible Somali Nationals
ICE has remained publicly silent due to the ongoing nature of the warrants. But a senior homeland security official speaking to Fox News confirmed:
“Minnesota has one of the highest concentrations of deportation-eligible Somali nationals in the country.”
The official added that the operation is focused on:
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Individuals with final removal orders
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Those who were previously deported and illegally re-entered
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Individuals with prior violent criminal histories
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Subjects tied to fraud, weapons, and organized criminal networks
“These are not random street sweeps,” the official said. “Every arrest target was validated through federal databases.”
Activists Claim “Political Intimidation”
Local activist groups have reacted with fury. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned the raids as psychological warfare.
“These kinds of actions terrorize families who have lived here for decades,” Hussein said. “This is political intimidation.”
Democratic city leaders echoed those claims, accusing the Trump administration of deliberately targeting immigrant communities for political gain.
Republicans Applaud Crackdown as “Long Overdue”
Republican lawmakers responded with full-throated support.
“President Trump promised to restore the rule of law,” said Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN). “If individuals here illegally are defrauding taxpayers and funneling money to terrorists, the federal government has every obligation to act.”
Conservative lawmakers argue that Minnesota’s sanctuary policies have turned the state into a refuge for criminal networks, forcing federal agents to operate without local assistance.
DHS Orders Internal Review After Communication Breakdown
As tensions erupted, the Department of Homeland Security reportedly ordered an internal review of the communication failures between ICE and local law enforcement.
Officials confirmed that Minneapolis police were not notified ahead of time due to fears that advance notice could compromise the operation.
“This was operational security,” a DHS source said. “We had reason to believe that leaks could put agents at risk.”
Sanctuary Policies vs. Federal Law: The National Collision
Minnesota’s sanctuary policies prohibit local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainers or assisting in civil immigration enforcement. Federal officials argue these restrictions:
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Force ICE into high-risk solo raids
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Allow known criminals to avoid deportation
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Create enforcement blind spots exploited by organized crime
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Undermine national security operations
“This is exactly what happens when states choose ideology over law enforcement,” a former ICE official said.
Community Fear vs. Public Safety
Residents in the affected neighborhoods reported waking to sirens, helicopters, and masked officers, fueling panic and uncertainty. Many families fear additional raids in the coming days.
At the same time, law enforcement leaders warn that failure to enforce removal orders directly contributes to violent crime and terror financing risk.
“This is the collision between sanctuary policy and federal law playing out in real time,” one retired DHS agent said.
Raids Expected to Continue Through the Week
Federal officials confirmed that enforcement actions will continue through the week, with additional arrests expected as warrants are executed across multiple jurisdictions.
Agents remain on heightened alert after reports of violent resistance during earlier arrests.
The Bigger Picture
The Minnesota raids mark one of the largest concentrated ICE enforcement actions of President Trump’s current term. They arrive at the intersection of:
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Immigration enforcement
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National security concerns
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Counterterrorism investigations
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Historic COVID-fraud prosecutions
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Explosive political scandal
And they highlight the growing divide between federal enforcement authority and sanctuary-state resistance.
Final Reality
These raids are no longer just about immigration.
They are now about:
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Terror-financing investigations
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Federal fraud on a quarter-billion-dollar scale
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Violent criminal resistance
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State versus federal authority
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And whether sanctuary policies will continue to block deportations
The outcome of this confrontation may determine how aggressively the federal government can enforce immigration law in sanctuary jurisdictions across the country.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
