A federal sting just swept through the city, nabbing nearly a dozen illegal immigrants with criminal records in a bold Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation.
Breitbart reported that under the banner of Operation Metro Surge, this crackdown in Minnesota’s largest city saw U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain individuals from Somalia, Mexico, and El Salvador for various offenses.
Among the apprehended were five Somali nationals, alongside others from Mexico and one from El Salvador, as reported by Fox News on Friday.
DHS didn’t hold back, sharing images of some suspects on social media that same Friday, branding them as the “worst of the worst” in a pointed jab at local policies.
One standout case involves Abdulkadir Sharif Abdi, a Somali national with a rap sheet that reads like a crime novel—fraud, stolen property, vehicle theft, and multiple probation violations, plus ties to the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lord Nation.
That’s the kind of record that makes you wonder how someone slips through the cracks for so long in a city known for its progressive stance.
Critics of Minneapolis’s sanctuary policies are having a field day, arguing that such leniency allows dangerous individuals to roam free while ICE agents play catch-up.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin didn’t mince words on the issue: “Sanctuary policies and politicians like Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey allowed these pedophiles, domestic terrorists, and gang members to roam the streets and terrorize Americans.”
She added, “ICE law enforcement are risking their lives to protect Minnesotans while their own elected officials sit by and do nothing.” That’s a gut punch to local leadership, and it’s hard not to wonder if there’s truth in the charge when you see cases like Abdi’s.
Meanwhile, Breitbart News reported on Tuesday about emerging evidence of widespread issues among some Somali migrants in Minnesota, including theft, embezzlement, migration fraud, and welfare abuse.
These reports paint a troubling picture, fueling debates about oversight and accountability in communities that are already under intense scrutiny.
President Donald Trump has also weighed in recently during a cabinet meeting, addressing the challenges posed by some Somali migrants in the state with his characteristic bluntness.
In a statement from November, Trump declared, “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing,” as reported by Breitbart News.
While his rhetoric is undeniably sharp, it reflects a frustration many feel about unaddressed crime and financial discrepancies—though solutions remain elusive amid the political firestorm.
Operation Metro Surge has thus become more than just a series of arrests; it’s a flashpoint for deeper questions about immigration policy, local governance, and community safety in Minneapolis.
With DHS and ICE doubling down on enforcement, and voices like Trump amplifying the stakes, Minnesota finds itself at the center of a national conversation about how to balance compassion with accountability. Surely, there’s a way to protect citizens without turning away from the values of refuge and opportunity that define America.
