• Trump administration deploys approximately 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis in one of largest DHS concentrations in American city
• 30-day operation targets both immigration enforcement and fraud investigations amid widening scandal in Minnesota politics
• Deployment led by CBP Commander Gregory Bovino who oversees controversial roundup operations across multiple cities

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (TDR) — The Trump administration has begun deploying approximately 2,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis area in a 30-day operation that marks one of the largest concentrations of Department of Homeland Security personnel in an American city in recent years, law enforcement officials confirmed.

The surge, which began Sunday, targets both immigration enforcement and fraud investigations amid a widening scandal that has engulfed Minnesota politics. The deployment includes officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s deportation branch and agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the agency’s investigative arm.

Controversial Commander Leads Operations

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino, who has overseen controversial immigration operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and New Orleans, is expected to lead enforcement efforts. Multiple officials told CBS News the total federal presence could ultimately become larger, with as many as 600 HSI agents and up to 1,500 ICE ERO officers rotating through the Minneapolis area over the month-long deployment.

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One former law enforcement official described the scale as extraordinary, noting that the number of HSI agents being sent to Minneapolis is roughly equivalent to the entire HSI workforce assigned to the state of Arizona. The official told CBS that Minneapolis is effectively becoming the new Chicago, referencing past large-scale federal enforcement deployments in Illinois.

Fraud Scandal Sparks Federal Response

Agents deployed from Homeland Security Investigations are expected to probe alleged cases of fraud, building on last month’s inspection of dozens of sites in the Minneapolis area. Federal prosecutors estimate fraud in Minnesota could top $9 billion, with 92 people facing federal charges and 62 convicted in cases dating back to 2021.

The scandal gained national attention after a viral video by YouTuber Nick Shirley claimed Somali-run daycare centers fraudulently obtained federal child care funding. The 42-minute video, amplified by Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk, quickly racked up over 137 million views.

“Right now in Minneapolis, Homeland Security Investigations are on the ground conducting a large scale investigation on fraudulent daycare and healthcare centers, as well as other rampant fraud.”

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DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the stepped-up enforcement but declined to provide specific operational details, citing officer safety concerns.

Somali Community Faces Scrutiny

In recent weeks, federal activity across the Minneapolis area has increased, with HSI agents canvassing businesses and ICE officers conducting arrests in and around immigrant-populated neighborhoods. That uptick has prompted protests, confrontations and widespread fear among immigrant communities, particularly within Minnesota’s large Somali-American population.

President Donald Trump has regularly cited Somalia in incendiary terms to justify his mass deportation campaign. Last month, Trump called people from Somalia garbage and said they contribute nothing, adding he did not want them in the country.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on law enforcement to protect Somali-American daycare centers and businesses, stating that baseless allegations targeting an entire community are putting innocent people in danger. Minnesota is home to the country’s largest Somali population, with approximately 108,000 residents, the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens.

Political Fallout Continues

The scandal prompted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to announce Monday he is dropping his 2026 reelection campaign amid intense political pressure. Walz defended his administration’s response, saying officials have spent years cracking down on fraudsters while accusing Trump of politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.

“We’ve got the President of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbors and wrongly confiscating childcare funding that Minnesotans rely on.”

The Trump administration froze all federal child care payments to Minnesota, with Trump calling the state a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. The Department of Health and Human Services announced sweeping changes requiring states to submit justification and photo evidence before receiving federal daycare funding.

Investigation Scope Expands

The Treasury Department is investigating whether tax dollars from Minnesota’s public assistance programs made their way to al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization based in Somalia. However, multiple federal investigators told CBS News Minnesota there is no evidence taxpayer dollars were directly funneled to the terrorist group.

Former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, who led prosecution of the Feeding Our Future case from 2022, stated the vast majority of money went to spending on luxury items for the defendants themselves.

Republican Representative James Comer of Kentucky, chair of the House Oversight Committee, opened an investigation into fraud in Minnesota’s public assistance programs and announced plans for hearings.

Will the largest federal enforcement deployment in years uncover systemic fraud or unfairly target an immigrant community?

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