MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly focusing new enforcement actions on undocumented Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, according to a New York Times report citing a source familiar with the directive from the Trump administration.
The Twin Cities — which encompass Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs — are home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States. Federal officials have not released data on how many Somali nationals may be affected or how long the targeted enforcement effort is expected to continue.
The reported directive applies to Somali immigrants who lack legal immigration status, including individuals who entered the U.S. without authorization, overstayed visas or otherwise lost legal status. The Times report did not identify the source or specify the time frame of the operation.
Somali communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul have grown over several decades, with many residents arriving as refugees or through family reunification programs.
ICE enforces federal immigration law by identifying, arresting and detaining individuals without legal status. The agency also executes deportations based on immigration court orders or administrative removals. Its priorities and operations are shaped by directives from the Department of Homeland Security and the executive branch.
The reported focus in the Twin Cities comes amid a series of immigration enforcement initiatives under the Trump administration, which has emphasized interior enforcement and the removal of undocumented individuals with criminal records or outstanding removal orders. Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups in Minnesota say such efforts have historically prompted increased fear and uncertainty among immigrant families.