The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that it has launched what officials described as the largest immigration enforcement operation in the agency’s history, deploying approximately 2,000 federal agents and officers to Minnesota.
According to DHS, the operation is centered in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and involves personnel from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. Federal officials said the surge is tied to ongoing investigations into immigration fraud and the identification of criminal illegal aliens.
“The largest DHS operation ever is happening right now in Minnesota,” the department said in a post on X.
The largest DHS operation ever is happening right now in Minnesota.
@POTUS Trump and @Sec_Noem have rallied DHS law enforcement personnel to keep Americans safe and ERADICATE fraud.We’re not leaving until the problem is solved. pic.twitter.com/KA4ChlFI6v
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 6, 2026
A U.S. official briefed on the matter said the additional agents are expected to operate primarily in the Twin Cities region. The official was not authorized to discuss operational details publicly.
DHS confirmed that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accompanied ICE officers during at least one enforcement action in St. Paul. Video released by the department showed Noem present during the arrest of an Ecuadorian national. DHS said the individual is wanted in Ecuador and Connecticut on charges including murder and sexual assault.
“You will be held accountable for your crimes,” Noem said during the arrest, according to the video.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the Minnesota operation has already resulted in the arrest of individuals accused of serious violent crimes. In a video interview posted by DHS, Lyons said the agency is targeting fraud schemes, human trafficking, and employers suspected of hiring illegal labor.
“They’re on the ground,” Lyons said, describing agents going door-to-door at businesses suspected of hiring individuals unlawfully present in the United States and potentially involved in human smuggling or fraud-related activity.
DHS said 150 arrests were made Monday as part of the enforcement effort in Minneapolis. The agency also released footage showing the arrest of Tomas Espin Tapia, an Ecuadorian national DHS said is wanted for murder and sexual assault and has a prior robbery conviction.
Lyons said the operation is being conducted amid what federal officials describe as widespread fraud concerns in Minnesota. He also pointed to the role of state and local policies in attracting illegal immigration.
“Sanctuary protections do attract other illegal aliens to come there to take advantage of welfare, public assistance, SNAP benefits,” Lyons said. “That’s just a magnet that brings that criminal element that can hide in plain sight.”
DHS said enforcement operations in Minnesota remain ongoing and are expected to continue in the coming days.
