Detentions and deportations rise in Minnesota under Trump’s new term

Key Takeaways

• During Trump’s first 100 days, Minnesota saw over 96 deportation orders and hundreds detained, including long-term residents.
• Bond hearings at Fort Snelling Immigration Court resulted in 50 out of 78 detainees being granted bond; most detainees lacked serious criminal history.
• Policy changes affected students, families, and workers; court battles intensified between local officials prioritizing trust and federal authorities demanding cooperation.

During the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, Minnesota 🇺🇸 saw a sharp increase in detentions and deportations, bringing renewed attention to how immigration laws are enforced, who is affected, and what this means for communities, families, and local governments. From construction workers to college students, the rise in enforcement actions touched many people, raising concerns about due process, family separation, and the larger debate between local and federal priorities. This article takes an in-depth look at the facts, the key stories during this time, and what this surge in enforcement could mean for Minnesota’s 🇺🇸 future.

Immigration Enforcement Rises in Early Trump Term

Federal immigration agents, especially those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detained hundreds of people across Minnesota 🇺🇸 during President Trump’s first 100 days back in office. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this wave of arrests was not limited to people with criminal records or recent arrivals, but included many who had lived in their communities for years.

The enforcement operations affected:

• Construction workers
• Restaurant employees
• Roofers
• College students
• Entrepreneurs

Some of those detained had no serious criminal history and were not flight risks, usually meaning that ICE did not consider them likely to run away or pose a danger to public safety. Yet many were taken into custody, surprising immigrant advocacy groups and local residents alike.

Details From Bond Hearings

Much of what we know comes from public bond hearings at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court, as observed by journalists, including those from the Star Tribune. Across 78 bond hearings during just three months:

• 50 people were granted bond, which lets someone leave detention while their case continues—usually by paying a set amount of money as “bail.”
• The majority of those detained and appearing in court had come from Latin American countries, but there were also people from Turkey 🇹🇷, China 🇨🇳, and Bangladesh 🇧🇩.

Bond hearings are critical for people facing possible deportation because they offer a chance at temporary freedom. But even a granted bond can be expensive. For those denied bond, continued detention became a hard new reality.

Deportation Orders and Who Was Deported

Reporters at Minnesota 🇺🇸 detention hearings found that since late January:

– 96 people received deportation orders, meaning they were told to leave the country.
– Only three were given voluntary departure, which is when someone agrees to leave on their own and avoid a formal order of removal.

Many of those ordered removed had only been in the United States 🇺🇸 for a few years. Some did not try to fight their cases—often because they felt hopeless, could not get a lawyer, or did not have strong legal arguments to stay. For example, people who said they did not fear returning home lost possible asylum options, a major path out of deportation, since someone must show fear of harm to qualify.

Families, Students, and Due Process Concerns

Several troubling stories emerged from these first 100 days. One major issue involved university students. There were reports that some students with visa problems or expired student status were detained suddenly. According to coverage from the Star Tribune and other outlets, Minnesota’s 🇺🇸 Governor Tim Walz strongly criticized these actions, especially reports that some students were “shoved into unmarked vans.” In a few cases, students’ visas were later restored after courts or universities stepped in, but the initial sweeps left many feeling shaken and unsafe.

• Students with immigration issues risked sudden detention and deportation
• Some had SEVIS student records canceled without warning, causing even those with pending visa issues to be targeted
• Court battles led to a few visa reinstatements, but not for everyone

Another problem highlighted by advocacy groups was what happened to families during detentions and deportations. Some families said they had to make heartbreaking decisions, with parents facing removal forced to choose between splitting up or bringing U.S.-citizen children with them to another country. While federal officials denied any formal policy to deport citizen children, critics said the results felt the same when parents got deported and children left as a result.

What the Numbers Show

Let’s look at some key numbers that paint a picture of this period in Minnesota 🇺🇸:

It’s important to note that these are just the public cases observed; closed hearings and incomplete records mean the real numbers may be even higher.

Why Did Enforcement Rise?

President Trump’s enforcement push was part of a bigger national policy to focus aggressively on removing people who lacked legal status, regardless of whether they had been charged with serious crimes or lived in the community for a long time. Public displays—like mugshot posters on the White House lawn showing immigrants accused of crimes—were used to highlight these efforts.

Minnesota 🇺🇸 was not alone, but it became a flashpoint because many local officials and law enforcement leaders disagreed with the new federal approach. Cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul stood by their “separation ordinances”—local rules that restrict sharing information with ICE—arguing that trust between police and immigrant communities was more important for public safety.

Court and Policy Fights Over Detentions, Deportations

All this tension led to several big battles between local and federal leaders over immigration enforcement:

• Minneapolis and St. Paul refused to help ICE with detentions, leading federal officials to threaten loss of funding
• Lawsuits followed, with the federal government pressuring cities to honor ICE detainer requests (requests to keep someone in jail for ICE pickup)
• Some Minnesota 🇺🇸 lawmakers introduced bills that would have required cities to report non-citizens arrested for violent crimes—even if those people were never officially charged—directly to ICE
• This sparked heated debates: some felt such reporting would keep Minnesotans safe; others worried it would break trust, making immigrants afraid to talk to police about crimes

Who Was Most Affected?

The increase in detentions and deportations touched a wide range of Minnesotans. While some targeted by ICE were newer arrivals, many had lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for years, built families, worked steady jobs, and had no recent criminal history. Among those affected were:

• Skilled tradespeople (like roofers and construction workers)
• Service workers (restaurant staff)
• Entrepreneurs and business owners
• Students, including legal visa-holders with paperwork issues
• Parents of U.S. citizen children

The common thread was that legal status—rather than danger to the community or flight risk—became the main factor for enforcement, a shift from some previous policies.

Impact on Families in Minnesota

The surge in enforcement had real effects on families and children. In households where one or both parents faced deportation, routines were upended. Children, some born in the United States 🇺🇸 and therefore citizens, faced confusion, stress, and sometimes sudden moves to new cities or countries. In other cases, parents left children with relatives to avoid uprooting them, causing lasting separations.

Family members and supporters often struggled to find legal help. Many low-income families could not afford immigration lawyers, and legal aid services could not meet the higher demand. This meant that some people gave up fighting their cases, choosing removal rather than stay in custody for months with no clear way to win.

Student Visa Cases: How Policy Changes Sparked Detentions

One especially sensitive area during this period was student visas. Some university students—despite being in the country for years and being close to graduation—were detained because of sudden changes to their SEVIS status (the official system for tracking student visas). According to multiple news reports, in some cases, a simple paperwork mistake or missed deadline made these students suddenly removable.

Governor Tim Walz and other state leaders called on federal officials to use more careful, fair procedures, and after some legal battles, a few students won the right to stay. Still, many said the process was confusing, rapid, and unfairly harsh. Information about student visas and rules can be found on the official U.S. Department of State website for those needing more details.

Legal Battles Over Due Process

A big worry in Minnesota 🇺🇸 during these months was the issue of due process, an American legal idea that everyone deserves a fair chance to challenge their detention or deportation before a judge. Yet when hundreds of cases come at once, it is hard for courts and lawyers to keep up.

• Some people were detained for weeks or months before seeing a judge
• Others gave up their cases out of fear, tiredness, or inability to find a lawyer
• There were reports of parents being pressured to sign removal papers to avoid their children being separated from them, even when those kids were U.S. citizens

Civil rights groups said that such quick removals and lack of legal help could lead to mistakes, wrongful removals, or families being broken without fair hearings. ICE officials said they were following the law, not targeting people for any reason other than status, and denied making families leave together.

Community Reactions and the Larger Debate

Minnesota’s 🇺🇸 response was divided. Some residents and lawmakers felt the rise in deportations kept the state safe and enforced national laws. Others argued that sweeping up hard-working residents and students caused lasting harm and did little to improve safety or trust.

Local leaders and police chiefs warned that aggressive enforcement drives some immigrants away from police, hospitals, or city services—out of fear. This “chilling effect” could make it harder to solve crimes or protect children in need.

At the same time, some supported stricter reporting laws, saying that anyone who broke immigration rules should be held accountable. This tension played out in statehouse debates and local city council meetings across Minnesota 🇺🇸.

What Happens Next?

The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term marked a clear change in immigration policy enforcement across Minnesota 🇺🇸. With detentions and deportations up, and families, students, and workers facing removal, the state found itself at the center of a national conflict between strong new federal rules and longtime local policies based on community trust.

Key takeaways include:

• Federal enforcement focused on status, not safety or flight risk
• Many people detained had roots in Minnesota 🇺🇸 communities and families
• Court and policy fights continue between state/local and federal authorities

The immediate future will likely bring more legal challenges, debates about local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, and continued questions about how to protect both public safety and families’ well-being. For those at risk, knowing your rights and seeking trusted legal guidance is more important than ever. For the latest updates, official fact sheets, and resources about immigration policy, people can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

Minnesota 🇺🇸’s experience offers a snapshot of a broader national story—one where the meaning of justice, safety, and belonging is being debated and rewritten almost daily. As new policies are proposed and court battles play out, both immigrants and long-time residents will be watching closely.

Learn Today

Deportation Order → A legal directive requiring an individual to leave the United States, usually issued by an immigration judge after a hearing.
Bond Hearing → A court proceeding where a judge decides whether a detained immigrant can be released on bond while awaiting case resolution.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → The U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including arrests, detentions, and deportations.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) → A federal database that tracks and monitors international students and exchange visitors in the United States.
Due Process → The legal requirement that an individual has the right to fair procedures and hearings before being deprived of liberty or property.

This Article in a Nutshell

Minnesota underwent a dramatic rise in detentions and deportations during Trump’s early second term. Federal priorities shifted, affecting families, students, and workers. With hundreds detained and nearly a hundred deportation orders, community trust, due process, and state-federal legal conflicts remained central themes, shaping the future of Minnesota’s immigrant landscape.
— By VisaVerge.com

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• Doğukan Günaydın of University of Minnesota faces immigration court
• 5 Students in Minnesota Deported Citing DUI and Past offenses
• Minnesota Lawmakers to Debate Immigration Sanctuaries and Food Aid
• Immigrant Entrepreneurs Boost Northeast Minnesota Economy Amid Population Decline