Exclusive: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is dispatching officers to Minnesota as part of a review of the legal refugee population, particularly focusing on Somalis, to investigate potential deportation cases.
The initiative, known as Operation Post-Entry Refugee Review and Integrity Enhancement (PARRIS), began in mid-December and will assess around 5,600 refugees from countries impacted by President Donald Trump’s travel ban.
“Minnesota is ground zero in the fight against fraud,” stated USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser. He emphasized that the agency won’t remain passive in the face of what he describes as exploitation of the U.S. immigration system. “The American people always come first,” he added.
The travel ban impacts 39 countries, with Somalia, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, Sudan, Yemen, and Iran being notable examples.
USCIS, functioning under the Department of Homeland Security, plans to reevaluate claims by re-interviewing refugees and assessing the validity of each case. If an individual is found to pose a public safety or national security risk or is discovered to have committed immigration fraud, deportation proceedings may ensue.
In a recent incident, ICE agents reported being targeted by a mob, leading to defensive gunfire that resulted in fatalities among the assailants. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attributed this violence to negative portrayals of law enforcement by certain political figures, suggesting a rise in assaults against police officers.
USCIS officials noted that Operation PARRIS has been in development for several months, mentioning that significant fraud was identified in the Twin Cities during a previous operation last fall, dubbed Operation Twin Shield, which focused on immigration-related fraud.
The current investigations will proceed until all identified cases have been examined, with indications that Operation PARRIS is poised to expand beyond Minnesota.
This operation is taking place alongside an increase in immigration-related charges in Minnesota, where a significant fraud scheme has led to allegations against 78 individuals, primarily from the Somali community.
ICE Director Todd Lyons mentioned in a recent video that the state is witnessing what he termed “the largest immigration operation in history.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on social media that law enforcement has been deployed in Minneapolis, successfully arresting over 1,500 individuals for various crimes, including serious offenses.
However, this has not been without local challenges—particularly in a Democratic stronghold where a Hilton-affiliated hotel reportedly refused entry to ICE and immigration officials.
USCIS shared communications showing that the Hampton Inn in Lakeville expressed its policy against accommodating ICE or immigration officers, which has resulted in ramifications for the hotel chain. The Trump administration subsequently moved to end government contracts with Hampton Inn over these issues.
Despite the backlash from local establishments, officials from USCIS indicated that there are further developments anticipated in Operation PARRIS in Minnesota.
