U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly is launching an operation in Minnesota targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. The New York Times was the first outlet to report on the operation, citing documents and an anonymous Trump administration official. “The Trump Administration is launching an operation targeting Somali immigrants in Minneapolis, according to an official and newly obtained documents,” the outlet wrote on X. Breaking News: The Trump Administration is launching an operation targeting Somali immigrants in Minneapolis, according to an official and newly obtained documents. https://t.co/AqjmLtPesh — The New York Times (@nytimes) December 2, 2025 CNN has more: Somalia is one of 19 countries included in Trump’s sweeping travel ban, which imposes full or partial restrictions. Many of the countries on the list are either failed states or under repressive rule, and some are governed by groups that took control after years of US involvement, CNN has reported. Trump has described Somalia as a country that has “no laws, no water, no military, no nothing.” The president’s hostile rhetoric toward Somali refugees and Rep. Omar stretches back years. Since his first term, he has zeroed in on the Minnesota’s Somali population to tout his agenda to crack down on immigration. In a statement, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the agency does “not discuss future or potential operations.” Leaders of the Twin Cities called a news conference Tuesday to respond to reports of the new ICE operation in the area, saying they were not given advance notice or information about the plan. “To our Somali community, we love you and we stand with you,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, according to CNN. “Minneapolis is proud to be home to the largest Somali community in the entire country,” he continued. Frey said Minneapolis police would not participate with ICE operations. During his press conference, the Minneapolis mayor starting speaking Somali mid-speech. Check it out: BREAKING: Minneapolis Mayor Frey says he will not cooperate with ICE, starts speaking Somali mid-speech pic.twitter.com/cXgKyZz2wZ — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 2, 2025 The Minnesota Reformer provided additional details: Data on the immigration statuses of the roughly 90,000 Somali-Americans in Minnesota is not readily available, but the vast majority of Somali people in Minnesota have legal status, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Tuesday. Roughly half of Somali-Americans in Minnesota were born in Somalia, according to 2024 Census data. Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter stood together at Tuesday’s press conference, decrying the president’s comments. “Mistakes will be made — and let’s be clear — it means that American citizens will be detained for no other reason than the fact that they look like they are Somali,” Frey said. Protestors have squared off with federal officers — and sometimes local police — at raids in Minneapolis and St. Paul this year. Law enforcement officers have used crowd dispersal tactics like pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets and sound cannons. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul are sanctuary cities, meaning their local police do not question residents’ immigration status or enforce immigration law, which is a federal responsibility. But both police departments have helped immigration authorities control the large crowds of protesters that have convened outside of raids. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Tuesday his officers will protect demonstrators’ First Amendment rights, and that the department is rewriting its immigration enforcement policy based on feedback from community organizations.