The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Thursday that federal immigration agents have arrested five Somali residents, six Mexican residents and one El Salvador resident during “Operation Metro Surge” in the Twin Cities.
The agency issued a news release saying that the arrestees had criminal records and blaming Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for local sanctuary policies. But some local immigration attorneys say law-abiding immigrants are being swept up in the arrests.
Immigrant advocacy groups told Sahan Journal that while they don’t have exact numbers, they believe, based on family and eyewitness accounts, that there have been more people arrested in Minnesota this week than the 12 reported by DHS.
“Every time ICE [the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] begins an operation and focuses their attention on a certain city, they plan to make as many arrests as possible,” said Erika Zurawski, a member of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee…