The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently conducted an operation in Minnesota, resulting in the arrest of 400 individuals in Minneapolis and St. Paul, as part of 'Operation Metro Surge.' This initiative has gained attention amid a fraud scandal involving the Somali community in the Twin Cities. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to review the arrests, highlighting concerns that U.S. citizens may have been mistakenly detained. DHS has responded, asserting that one individual mentioned by Walz was arrested for assaulting a federal officer.

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized state officials for not adequately protecting residents from individuals with serious criminal backgrounds. Among those arrested were individuals with charges or convictions for violent crimes, including sexual offenses. Notably, a Burmese national, Ban Du La Sein, had been under an order of removal for over a decade prior to his apprehension. Other detainees included Laotian nationals with serious criminal histories and longstanding orders of removal.

Governor Walz has expressed concerns about the impact of these arrests on civic engagement, emphasizing the need for federal operations to respect the rights of all individuals, including U.S. citizens. He has called for clarity regarding the legal standards for detaining citizens and has urged lawful conduct in federal operations. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has reported that federal agents' actions have caused distress within the community, suggesting that such operations may foster a climate of fear among residents.

In a related development, Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar reported that her son was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who requested proof of his citizenship. After presenting his passport, he was allowed to leave. Omar noted that her son carries his passport due to concerns about ICE's activities, which have included entering a mosque where he was praying. She expressed worries about potential racial profiling, particularly against young men perceived as Somali and undocumented.

Federal agents have intensified their operations in the Twin Cities, specifically targeting undocumented Somali immigrants. This increased focus follows remarks from President Trump, who has expressed a desire to limit the presence of Somali individuals in the U.S. and has made derogatory comments about Omar. In response, Omar sent a letter to DHS officials, accusing ICE of racial profiling and excessive force in their operations. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 107,000 individuals, over 80,000 of whom reside in the Twin Cities. Omar highlighted 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, has been vocal about the implications of federal immigration enforcement on her community.