Minnesota, until recently a symbol of American civility and social stability, became the scene of sharp clashes in early 2026 between federal ICE agents and protesters in Minneapolis' Somali neighborhoods.
Operation “Metro Surge“ - the largest immigration crackdown in the state's history - led to thousands of arrests, raids on malls such as Karmel Mall and Star City Mall, clashes with protesters and tragic incidents, including the deaths of two American citizens who tried to interfere with the work of federal services. Governor Tim Walz, former vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have condemned the operation as "chaos," "occupation," and "racial profiling," but the federal Justice Department is already investigating them for possible conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement. This is no random encounter -- it is the culmination of a decades-long process that began with the mass resettlement of Somali refugees in the 1990s and ended with a massive fraud involving billions of dollars in state aid.
Minnesota's Somali community is the largest in the United States, numbering between 80,000 and 100,000, with local leaders estimating it as high as 160,000. The first waves arrived after the collapse of the Somali state and civil war in the early 1990s. Federal refugee resettlement programs, supported by church organizations and the then-Democratic administration, directed thousands to Minnesota for jobs meatpacking plant jobs and the state's relatively liberal welfare policies.
The Cedar-Riverside area of Minneapolis is fast becoming a "Little Mogadishu" - a neighborhood with more than 90 mosques, halal stores, Somali restaurants and cultural centers. Secondary migration from other states and family reunions are further increasing the numbers. By 2025, more than 58% of Somalis in the state were born in the United States, but cultural and social isolation remains deep, and poverty affects 36% of them - more than three times the national poverty rate. It is no coincidence that Somalia is one of the epitome of a failed state on a global scale. When the people who make up this state go elsewhere but remain emotionally and mentally in Somalia, they don't blend into their new home, they take the old one with them.
The scams explode in full force in 2020-2021 with the biggest case - Feeding Our Future. The NGO, led by Amy Bock, who is not Somali, but there is extensive participation of Somalis in the entire scheme, embezzled over $ 250 million in federal funds for child meals during the pandemic. Documents were forged, sites did not exist, the money went abroad or to a luxurious life. According to the US Department of Justice, 78 people were indicted, 72 of whom were of Somali origin; more than 60 have pleaded guilty or been convicted. In March 2026, Amy Bock was found guilty on all charges, including financial instrument fraud and conspiracy to defraud government resources, and a federal judge recently approved the seizure of $ 5.2 million in assets - including a luxury car and $ 3.7 million in bank accounts and luxury goods.
Other schemes follow. In Medicaid programs (HCBS, PCA, EIDBI and 14 other services) federal prosecutors estimate potential fraud at up to $9 billion since 2018 - half of the total budget for these programs. Child care and subsidies are also affected: a viral video by Nick Shirley from December 2025 shows suspicious practices at Somali centers, where child care services are billed without any children being present. According to audits and investigations by the state auditor and federal authorities, the fraud is systematic - companies register, bill millions for non-existent services, the money is transferred to Somalia or used for personal needs. Most of the defendants are from the Somali community. The Walz administration has been slow to react: task forces, audits, freezing programs - but only after federal agencies and the media have made a fuss. As the good Senator John Kennedy said recently to Sean Hannity on “Fox“ - Walz learned to lie before he learned to speak and is a less masculine version of Hillary Clinton.
This systemic abuse is not isolated. It is a direct result of "trust" and "sanctuary city" policies that have ignored fraud alerts for years. Whistleblowers have claimed for years that warnings were suppressed, and organizations like Feeding Our Future have even sued the state on charges of "racial discrimination" to continue the schemes. In this context, the position of Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey is more than inadequate - it is dangerous. Both consistently portray ICE's operation as "racial profiling," an "occupation," and "terror." Walz activated the state's National Guard (at state expense) ostensibly for "public safety," but in reality to counter federal agents. Frey calls for “peace”, but simultaneously accuses federal agents of “chaos” and even publicly declares “Get the f**k out of Minneapolis”. Which I don't know if that should be translated. Both are under federal investigation by the Justice Department for possible conspiracy to obstruct immigration enforcement - including through public statements that encourage resistance and policies that release hundreds of criminal illegal immigrants back onto the streets. According to federal records, since the beginning of Trump's term, Walz and Frey have released nearly 470 criminal illegal immigrants, including murderers and rapists.
President Donald Trump and his administration are responding decisively. Operation “Metro Surge” begins in December 2025 with over 2,000 federal agents - the largest immigration operation in US history. The goal is clear: to bring illegal immigrants, criminals, and fraudsters to justice. Thousands have been arrested, including dozens with criminal records - murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and gang members. The temporary protected status of Somalis has been terminated. Trump publicly calls what is happening in Minnesota a "money laundering hub" and a "gangster haven," and part of the Somali community describes it as "trash" that is "tearing up" the state. Clashes are inevitable as protesters surround agents, throw objects, and try to prevent arrests. Tragic deaths are painful, but under circumstances in which agents were threatened.
Ultimately, what is happening in Minnesota is a mirror of a broader problem: the liberal policy of "open borders," "trust" in certain communities and "sanctuaries" has led to systemic fraud worth billions of dollars, taxpayer embezzlement, and parallel societies where the law does not apply equally. Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, instead of solving the problem, have covered it up, used it for political purposes, and even defied federal authority. President Trump and ICE are doing exactly what they were elected to do: protect American taxpayers, restore the rule of law, and stop abuse. The operation may be loud and painful, but it is a necessary surgical intervention on a gangrene that local governments have allowed to grow for years. If Minnesota wants to return to normalcy, it must accept that federal intervention is not an "occupation" - it is a salvation. This is the ultimate cleansing of the liberal Augean stables.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.