Chicago – January 07, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has announced what it is calling the largest immigration enforcement action ever conducted by the agency, with approximately 2,000 federal agents and officers deployed to Minnesota as part of an expansive crackdown connected in part to alleged fraud cases involving Somali residents.
In a statement shared on X, DHS said the sweeping operation is currently underway in the Minneapolis St. Paul region, significantly increasing the federal law enforcement presence in the state during a period of heightened political and community sensitivity.
According to a U.S. official and another individual briefed on the operation, thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have been mobilized to the Twin Cities area. Both sources spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release operational details.
Community organizations and local leaders reported a noticeable surge in activity on Tuesday, including multiple sightings of federal agents around St. Paul. ICE vehicles were seen conducting traffic stops and appearing near apartment complexes and commercial areas, prompting concern among immigrant advocacy groups.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was also on the ground in Minnesota and joined ICE officers during at least one arrest. A video shared on social media shows Noem in tactical gear as agents detain a man in St. Paul, telling him, “You will be held accountable for your crimes.”
Officials say investigations remain ongoing and the enforcement operation is expected to continue as federal authorities pursue suspected fraud and immigration violations in the region.
