The Trump administration has launched a new effort in Minneapolis aimed at locating and removing illegal Somali immigrants, deploying more than 100 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of an expanded enforcement operation.

According to multiple reports, immigration agents are focusing on as many as 500 Somalis believed to be in the country illegally.

BREAKING: Approximately 100 federal agents are surging to Minneapolis targeting “the Somali community,” per the mayor.

The ICE MAN cometh! pic.twitter.com/XwSR9gC4R4

— 0HOUR (@0hour1) December 3, 2025

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

Minneapolis is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, estimated at more than 80,000.

The action comes after disclosures from the Minnesota Department of Human Services that individuals in the Somali migrant community carried out large-scale fraud schemes costing the state approximately $1 billion.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The schemes occurred during the tenure of Gov. Tim Walz, according to the department’s findings.

President Trump addressed the issue during a White House cabinet meeting Tuesday.

“I don’t want them in our country,” he said, referring to Somali illegal immigrants.

He also described Somalia as a nation that “stinks,” and criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who was born in Somalia, calling her “garbage.”

NOW – Trump on Somali immigrants: “When they come from hell, and they complain and do nothing but bitch. We don’t want em in our country. Let em go back to where they came from and fix it!” pic.twitter.com/UkJpIKkpnY

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) December 2, 2025

As the enforcement effort expanded, the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that the operation was not directed at any specific ethnic community.

ICE teams also increased activity in New Orleans as part of the broader initiative.

“Every day, ICE enforces the laws of the nation across the country. What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally. We do not discuss future or potential operations,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday in a statement as the operation began.

Reports indicate that the Minneapolis effort involves door-to-door actions, surveillance and coordinated movements by federal officers intended to locate individuals with outstanding removal orders.

The estimate of up to 500 potential targets is based on internal assessments of individuals who have exhausted legal avenues to remain in the country.

Minneapolis and surrounding communities have been a focal point for federal immigration discussions due to the size of the Somali population and the recent revelations of fraud within the state’s benefits system.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has stated that the schemes involved fraudulent billing and improper use of public funds, with losses totaling around $1 billion. State records show that the activity spanned multiple years and involved numerous participants.

The Trump administration’s move marks one of the largest targeted immigration operations in Minnesota in recent years.

Federal sources cited the combination of illegal residency cases and the recent fraud findings as factors prompting the deployment of additional personnel.

The operation will continue in Minneapolis and New Orleans, with DHS maintaining that enforcement activity is based solely on immigration status and existing removal orders.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of DrewBerquist.com. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.