U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a House Homeland Security hearing entitled "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland," on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 11, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
(Saint Paul, Minnesota) – Federal authorities have ramped up their footprint across Minneapolis–St. Paul, as a wide-ranging enforcement push targets illegal immigration and large-scale fraud tied to publicly funded programs. Multiple reports and official statements indicate the operation involves a major influx of federal personnel- potentially reaching into the thousand – making it one of the most visible federal surges Minnesota has seen in years.
The effort is being led by the Department of Homeland Security, with ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) expanding activity throughout the Twin Cities. While immigration arrests are part of the mission, the crackdown also appears focused on fraud investigations, including suspected abuse of federally backed benefits and social services systems. Agency-posted footage and on-the-ground reporting show HSI teams conducting inspections and enforcement actions at various locations across the metro.
Sources have described the surge as an internally organized operation that began in late 2025 and carried into early January 2026, with some estimates suggesting roughly 2,000 federal personnel could be involved over about a month-long window. Federal officials have not released a full operational map or a running tally of arrests, but the scale has been evident enough to draw attention from residents, local leaders, and national commentators.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has also been reported in the area during the enforcement push, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on the region. Meanwhile, federal actions in the Twin Cities have been building for months – including arrests announced in December and business raids that prompted protests and public backlash.
The heightened activity comes as Minnesota remains under intense scrutiny over major fraud cases linked to state-administered programs- controversies that critics say exposed weak oversight and emboldened criminal networks. Supporters of the surge argue it’s long overdue accountability. Opponents warn it risks sweeping up non-criminal residents and inflaming tensions in immigrant communities.
Local police departments have emphasized that immigration enforcement is federal jurisdiction, and that city and county agencies generally aren’t conducting immigration operations- though they may assist with traffic control or public safety when needed.
For now, the message is clear: federal enforcement in the Twin Cities has escalated sharply, and while the full scope remains unclear, the operation is drawing strong reactions on both sides as investigations continue.
