- Noem promoted aggressive federal immigration enforcement, citing thousands of regional arrests and nationwide deportations since January 2025.
- Federal officials urged local law enforcement cooperation, clashing with Minneapolis and St. Paul ordinances limiting assistance to ICE.
- The visit sparked protests and political backlash, amid a DOJ lawsuit challenging Minnesota "sanctuary" policies and escalating legal fights.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Minneapolis on Friday to spotlight the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement efforts, touting thousands of arrests in the region while calling for greater cooperation from local law enforcement.
The event drew sharp criticism from city leaders and protesters who decried the policies as divisive and harmful to immigrant communities.
The press conference comes amid a broader national crackdown on illegal immigration that has intensified since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, with federal agencies prioritizing the removal of individuals with criminal records, gang affiliations, or national security risks.
The FrankNez Media Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
Speaking at a news conference inside the Whipple Building, Noem detailed the work of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Since January, federal officers have arrested over 4,300 individuals described as “committing crimes and here illegally in this country.”
Of those, 3,316 had a criminal history, Noem stated.
“Of those individuals, 98 of them were gang members. Members of foreign terrorist organizations as designated by the Trump administration,” Noem said.
She further noted that 11 were suspected terrorists and two were foreign fugitives.
Nationwide, the enforcement push has led to over 515,000 arrests and deportations for those “breaking our laws,” according to Noem.
She also claimed that an additional 1.6 million people have voluntarily deported—a figure that reflects a significant increase in self-deportations often attributed to heightened enforcement visibility and policy changes.
Federal Push for Local Partnerships in Minnesota
Federal officials emphasized their desire to expand partnerships with Minnesota’s local agencies to enhance these operations, particularly in areas where local police have firsthand knowledge of high-risk individuals.
“They know so many of these individuals that are dangerous in their communities, and they can work with us to make sure that we’re meeting not just their law enforcement needs but also, we’re getting those people out of their area as soon as possible,” Noem explained.
This call for collaboration stands in direct contrast to longstanding policies in Minneapolis and St. Paul, both of which have ordinances that limit or prohibit local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities.
Protests Erupt Outside Whipple Building
The visit wasn’t without opposition.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Whipple Building, protesting what organizers labeled “her cruel message.”
Images from the scene showed crowds holding signs and chanting against the administration’s immigration stance, with many highlighting the human impact of family separations and community fear.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a strong statement ahead of Noem’s appearance, reaffirming the city’s commitment to its immigrant residents.
“Minneapolis doesn’t flinch when it comes to our values. We stand with our immigrant neighbors — not just in words, but in the laws we’ve passed, the policies we enforce, and the way we show up for each other every day,” Frey said.
City Councilor Jason Chavez echoed those concerns in a letter to constituents on Thursday, expressing worry over the scheduled news conference.
He highlighted an ongoing lawsuit filed by Minneapolis and eight other local governments against the Trump administration, challenging conditions imposed on federal funding for emergency and disaster preparedness—a dispute centered on requirements that jurisdictions cooperate with ICE to access certain grants.
DOJ Lawsuit Targets “Sanctuary” Ordinances in Minnesota
The tensions come amid broader legal battles.
Late last month, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a 34-page lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, as well as the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, targeting so-called “sanctuary city” policies.
The suit seeks to invalidate portions of the state constitution, city codes in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Hennepin County administrative orders, arguing that these measures—which limit local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—are unconstitutional.
Notably, both Minneapolis and St. Paul maintain city ordinances that explicitly prohibit such cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
However, Minnesota as a state does not have a law designating it as a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants—a distinction that has become central to the federal legal challenge.
As immigration remains a flashpoint in national politics, Friday’s event underscores the divide between federal priorities and local resistance in progressive hubs like the Twin Cities.
With enforcement numbers climbing and legal battles escalating, the outcome of these clashes could set precedents for sanctuary policies nationwide.
Also Read: A DOJ Whistleblower Now Makes Revelation That Undermines the Judicial System’s Integrity
