The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis has nabbed several criminal illegal aliens from Somalia.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 12 criminal illegals – including five from Somalia – have been detained since Operation Metro Surge began in the Minneapolis area on December 1.
Minnesota Democrats have faced scrutiny from the Trump administration over the state’s sanctuary policies and welfare fraud involving Somalis in Minneapolis, leading to a federal probe.
“Sanctuary policies and politicians like Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey allowed these pedophiles, domestic terrorists, and gang members to roam the streets and terrorize Americans,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “ICE law enforcement are risking their lives to protect Minnesotans while their own elected officials sit by and do nothing. No matter when and where, ICE will find, arrest, and deport ALL criminal illegal aliens.”
One of the illegal Somalis detained in Operation Metro Surge was Abdulkadir Sharif Abdi, a convict and Vice Lord Nation gang member, according to ICE. Another illegal, Sahal Osman Shidane, has a conviction for criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Meet Abdulkadir Sharif Abdi, a criminal illegal from Somalia.
He's a Vice Lords member/former Gangster Disciples member and has a long list of criminal convictions.
Thankfully, @ICEgov got his ass off the streets of Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge this week. pic.twitter.com/ZMl1rKIVSS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 4, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS — Sahal Osman Shidane, a criminal illegal alien from Somalia, was convicted of sexually abusing a child under 15.
See more Operation Metro Surge arrests: https://t.co/kZrHqtYl0T pic.twitter.com/BYmJAGw9of
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) December 8, 2025
Other illegals destined by ICE include Mukthar Mohamed Ali, who has convictions for assault, fraud, robbery and larceny, and Ahmed Mohamed Said, who has two domestic violence convictions and others for driving under the influence and assault.
“The streets of Minneapolis are safer today thanks to the hard work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and their federal partners during Operation Metro Surge,” the White House said. “President Trump has long — and rightly — called out the problems associated with unchecked Somali refugee resettlement in Minnesota.”
“The Trump Administration will continue to be unrelenting in its mission to make the streets of America’s cities safe for the law-abiding citizens who live there,” the White House added.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department is investigating whether any taxpayer funds made thor way to the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
At my direction, @USTreasury is investigating allegations that under the feckless mismanagement of the Biden Administration and Governor Tim Walz, hardworking Minnesotans’ tax dollars may have been diverted to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.
Thanks to the leadership of… https://t.co/uillMknuXL
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) December 1, 2025
The Trump administration also last week halted immigration from 19 “high risk” countries, including Somalia.
