(MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA) — Federal authorities began a 30-day surge operation on January 5, 2026 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, deploying approximately 2,000 federal agents for an immigration crackdown tied to a wide-ranging fraud probe.
Overview of the Operation
Federal officials characterized the effort as a coordinated enforcement action combining criminal fraud investigations with civil immigration enforcement. The surge includes personnel from multiple DHS components and focuses on alleged misuse of taxpayer funds tied to childcare, autism centers, and other organizations receiving public assistance.
- Duration: 30 days beginning January 5, 2026
- Personnel involved: approximately 2,000 (ICE ERO officers, HSI agents, U.S. Border Patrol personnel)
- Operation lead: CBP Commander Gregory Bovino
“Our agents are conducting a massive investigation on childcare and other rampant fraud. The American people deserve answers on how their taxpayer money is being used and ARRESTS when abuse is found.”
— DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, social media post, December 29, 2025
Purpose and Scope
Officials said the inquiry spans multiple sectors that receive taxpayer dollars, with DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin describing alleged widespread fraud across daycare centers, healthcare centers, and other entities.
- Targets named in public statements: childcare, autism centers, Medicaid, and other HHS-funded programs
- Investigative focus: misuse of social assistance funding and procurement of benefits by fraudulent means
- Enforcement outcomes discussed: arrests, denaturalization, deportation, and status revocation for individuals found to have obtained benefits or citizenship fraudulently
“Under U.S. law, if an individual procures citizenship on a fraudulent basis, that is grounds for denaturalization.”
— Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary (interviews, December 30, 2025)
Statements From Agencies and Officials
- Kristi Noem (DHS Secretary) — social post on December 29, 2025 urging accountability and arrests for alleged abuse of taxpayer funds.
- Tricia McLaughlin — emphasized rampant fraud across sectors receiving taxpayer dollars (interviews, December 30, 2025).
- Joseph B. Edlow (USCIS Director) — on September 30, 2025: “USCIS is declaring an all-out war on immigration fraud. We will relentlessly pursue everyone involved in undermining the integrity of our immigration system and laws. Under President Trump, we will leave no stone unturned.”
- ICE — posted a statement on January 1, 2026 criticizing local leaders and defending the operation: “The American people deserve safety. Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey have stoked nonstop riots and attacks against our officers.”
Activity and Reported Impacts
Federal authorities released figures and described several immediate impacts stemming from the investigations and surge:
- As of January 1, 2026:
- 500 individuals arrested in Minnesota
- 1,000 immigration-fraud cases investigated in the prior two months
- Alleged financial impact: up to $9 billion in compromised social assistance funding in Minnesota since 2018 (figures cited by prosecutors)
- Charged defendants: 98 charged in recent schemes; the DOJ identified 85 as being of Somali descent
- Community size targeted: Twin Cities Somali community estimated at ~80,000 members
A notable administrative action: The Department of Health and Human Services has frozen all childcare payments to the state of Minnesota pending audit results.
Geographic and Community Focus
Authorities say the Twin Cities surge heavily targets alleged fraud in communities with concentrated immigrant populations. Reports indicate:
- Door-to-door inspections reported in neighborhoods such as Cedar-Riverside
- Residents described a “heightened climate of anxiety” as the agent surge began
- The operation briefing described the Somali community as the largest in the U.S., making it a focal point of the enforcement activity
Legal and Enforcement Consequences Described
Officials have emphasized multiple enforcement pathways connected to fraud findings:
- Criminal prosecution for alleged fraud involving public funds
- Civil immigration actions, including:
- Immediate deportation for some individuals found with allegedly fraudulent credentials
- Denaturalization proceedings for those alleged to have obtained citizenship fraudulently
- Federal messaging has repeatedly tied taxpayer funding fraud allegations to immigration consequences
Political Response and Local Reaction
State and city leaders criticized the federal operation, framing it as politically motivated:
- Governor Tim Walz and local leaders called the move “politically driven retaliation“
- Community activists organized protests and actions intended to obstruct ICE activities
ICE’s January 1 statement explicitly named Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of contributing to “nonstop riots and attacks against our officers.”
Repeated Themes in Federal Messaging
Public statements from DHS, USCIS, and ICE have consistently:
- Linked alleged misuse of taxpayer funds to broader immigration enforcement priorities
- Emphasized arrests, denaturalization, and leave no stone unturned investigative approaches
- Presented the Twin Cities surge as a major early component of the Trump administration’s expanded 2026 immigration crackdown
Key Data Snapshot
| Item | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Surge start date | January 5, 2026 |
| Duration | 30 days |
| Federal personnel deployed | ~2,000 |
| Arrests reported (as of Jan 1, 2026) | 500 |
| Investigations opened (prior 2 months) | 1,000 |
| Alleged compromised funds since 2018 | $9 billion |
| Defendants charged in recent schemes | 98 |
| Defendants identified as Somali descent | 85 |
| Size of Twin Cities Somali community | ~80,000 |
Sources and Public Messaging Channels
Federal information on the operation was distributed through official channels, including:
Important Notes and Takeaways
- The operation combines fraud investigations with immigration enforcement, with federal authorities presenting both as linked.
- Officials have highlighted legal avenues such as denaturalization where citizenship is alleged to have been procured by fraud.
- The HHS freeze on childcare payments represents an immediate administrative consequence affecting state-administered services, pending audit results.
- The focus on the Somali-American community and reports of door-to-door activity have generated significant local concern and political pushback.
Federal authorities initiated a 30-day surge in Minnesota involving 2,000 agents to combat alleged large-scale fraud in social programs. Targeting sectors like childcare and Medicaid, the DHS operation links financial crimes to immigration enforcement. With $9 billion in funds allegedly compromised, officials are pursuing arrests and denaturalization. The move has sparked significant tension between federal agencies and local leaders amid concerns regarding its impact on immigrant communities.
