U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have recently intensified their operations in Minnesota, specifically focusing on the Somali community. This increase in enforcement has raised significant concerns regarding racial profiling, particularly against young men perceived to be Somali. Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar reported that her son was stopped by ICE agents who requested proof of his citizenship after he visited a Target store. He presented his passport and was allowed to leave, but the incident underscores the community's fears regarding ICE activities.

Omar highlighted that her son routinely carries his passport due to ongoing concerns about ICE's presence, which has included previous incidents where agents entered a mosque during prayer times but left without taking action. She expressed her worries that such targeting is a form of racial profiling, particularly following derogatory remarks made by President Trump about Somali immigrants, including comments directed at Omar herself.

In a letter to officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Omar accused ICE of engaging in "blatant racial profiling" and employing excessive force in their operations. She argued that the recent surge in enforcement is a direct response to the hostile rhetoric surrounding Somali individuals and her own identity as a Somali-American.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 107,000 individuals, over 80,000 of whom reside in the Twin Cities. Omar noted that more than 90% of Somalis in the U.S. are citizens, referencing an American Community Survey that estimates around 22,000 Somalis, or about 8.4% of the population, are not citizens. Omar, who immigrated from Somalia as a child and became a U.S. citizen in 2000, continues to advocate for the rights and safety of her community amid increasing scrutiny from federal immigration authorities.