Federal Authorities Plan Immigration Sweep Targeting Somali Immigrants in Minnesota

Federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration-enforcement operation in Minnesota that will focus on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S., source tell AP. The operation — reportedly scheduled to begin in the coming days — is expected to center on the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area and target individuals with final deportation orders.

The action follows controversial remarks by President Donald Trump, who has recently escalated rhetoric about Minnesota’s Somali community, saying he does not want immigrants from Somalia in the U.S. because “they contribute nothing.” Government agents are expected to spread across the Twin Cities in a high-priority sweep, though the plans remain subject to change.

Local leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul quickly condemned the planned operation, warning that it threatens community trust, risks wrongful detentions, and could lead to civil-rights violations. They also emphasized that the vast majority of Somali Minnesotans are U.S. citizens and urged law-enforcement agencies not to engage in what they called discriminatory enforcement.