MINNEAPOLIS — On the surface, Wednesday appeared like any other day in Cedar-Riverside, the center of Minneapolis’ Somali American community. Yet behind the familiar scene, many residents and business owners described a tense atmosphere shaped by reports of an active ICE operation in the Twin Cities.
Community advocates said they received multiple accounts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity throughout the day, both in Cedar-Riverside and in other parts of Minneapolis. It remains unclear, however, whether any arrests have taken place. At least one building in the neighborhood displayed a sign stating, “No ICE Enter Without Court Order.”
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR–Minnesota, urged Minnesotans to support their Somali neighbors during this period of uncertainty. “The Somali American community is incredibly resilient. We’ve faced numerous challenges before,” he said.
Hussein noted that most of the more than 80,000 Somali immigrants living in Minnesota are U.S. citizens or on a legal path to citizenship. He estimated that only a few hundred Somali residents in the state are undocumented.
DHS officials have emphasized that ICE enforcement is based on immigration status, not race or ethnicity. A senior law enforcement source told NBC News that this week’s operation is directed specifically at Somali nationals without legal status, not the broader Somali community.
Still, President Trump’s recent remarks have intensified community fears. During a cabinet meeting Tuesday, he referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” following several days of rhetoric linking the community to high-profile fraud cases in Minnesota. He has also stated he intends to remove Somalia from the Temporary Protected Status list—an action that could affect a small number of Somali immigrants who rely on TPS to stay in the United States.
“Blaming an entire community for the wrongdoing of a few individuals is not only immoral,” Hussein said, “it is a clear expression of racism.”
In response to both Trump’s comments and the ICE operations, about a dozen DFL lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday at the Brian Coyle Center. State Senator Zaynab Mohamed said she invited Republican colleagues but received no replies.
“This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” Mohamed said. “We pride ourselves on being a country of immigrants and of rights—if we have the courage to uphold them.”
Minnesota Republicans, meanwhile, voiced support for federal immigration enforcement. In a joint statement, House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Floor Leader Harry Niska argued that sanctuary policies enable criminal activity.
“Across states like California and New York, we’re seeing repeat offenders who are here illegally prioritized over their victims,” their statement read. “Ultimately, the law is clear: regardless of your origin, if you are in this country unlawfully, you must be removed.”
Senator Jordan Rasmusson also expressed approval of the ongoing ICE efforts, saying, “We believe anyone wishing to come to the United States should do so through the proper legal channels.”
