Holding legal immigration status offers limited protection from the impacts of planned federal enforcement operations according to Minneapolis officials. City leaders warn that even legal residents will face harassment and potential detention during operations targeting the Somali community.
Federal immigration authorities are preparing to deploy approximately 100 agents for enforcement operations in the metropolitan area. While officially focused on individuals with deportation orders, the methods required to identify targets within a population of 80,000 Somali residents affect everyone.
Presidential rhetoric has characterized Somali immigrants broadly without distinguishing between different legal statuses. During a cabinet meeting, the administration’s leader expressed desires to remove Somali immigrants from America and questioned their contributions to society.
Minneapolis is home to many Somali residents who hold various forms of legal status including permanent residency, temporary protected status, and valid visas. City officials warn that enforcement operations based on appearance will impact all of these legal residents regardless of their documentation.
Local leaders have emphasized that legal status should provide meaningful protection from detention and harassment. The mayor and police chief warned that planned enforcement would undermine legal protections, stressed their commitment to defending all residents, and declared unwavering support for the Somali community.