Following the federal mobilization in Minnesota, nearly a hundred agents were deployed with the goal of arresting people of Somali descent who could be subject to deportation. As the EFE agency reported, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) assured that those arrested since Monday included “some of the worst illegal foreign criminals,” although immigration protection organizations have pointed out that the actual number of arrests remains low. This federal operation takes place in a context of growing tensions due to recent comments by former President Donald Trump.
EFE media detailed that these measures are related to the investigation of large-scale fraud cases against state social assistance programs, a case in which 86 people, most of them of Somali origin, were accused of embezzling public funds. According to the information, the money was intended to feed minors in precarious circumstances, prevent homelessness and provide therapy for children with autism. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz warned of the risks of xenophobic rhetoric, which has intensified after comments from Trump, who called Somalis “trash” and declared: “We don’t want them in our country.” Walz emphasized to the media: “This creates danger” after participating in a press conference discussing the state budget.
EFE said that while 59 of those named were convicted in the fraud case, the majority were US citizens and not new immigrants. Prosecutors have not linked the fraud to the Somali community as a whole. However, the rhetoric used by Trump has sparked concern among world leaders and migrant communities, who fear that hate speech could lead to episodes of violence. Governor Walz stated, “Hate speech often escalates into attacks,” emphasizing the potential danger to individuals and communities.
At the operational level, federal authorities reported that the operation focused on aliens with criminal records. However, migrant rights associations have expressed doubts about the actual number of arrests, believing that the massive operation was not accompanied by a significant number of arrests. EFE also collected statements from Walz in which he criticized the federal campaign and recalled that the majority of Somalis in Minnesota are permanent residents or have U.S. citizenship.
The fraud case has raised concerns about the economic impact on aid programs. Walz noted that ongoing audits will show how much of the state budget has been affected. According to EFE, there is still no exact figure for the projected public deficit in relation to the amount defrauded, as the official reports are still being developed.
These events have intensified the political debate in the country. Tim Walz, who is seeking a third term in 2026, commented wryly on the federal agents’ actions, noting that “very little appears to be being done” and that so far officers are “too cold to get out of their cars and harass people.” The sentence reported by EFE reflects the governor’s critical tone towards the federal presence and the measures taken following a series of recent statements and events.
According to the EFE report, the atmosphere in Minnesota remains tense due to the federal operation and the controversial political response to criminal cases involving people of different nationalities, without any specific community being linked to the crime. The impact on coexistence, security and the management of public resources remains a central topic in the state discussion.