Minneapolis Police Chief Calls for Community Action Amid Immigration Enforcement Concerns

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has encouraged residents to contact emergency services if they observe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents potentially “kidnapping” individuals, a reference to the past immigration enforcement efforts during the Trump administration.

O’Hara expressed his concerns on Tuesday, noting, “We have received reports from people in this city… where individuals, often masked, are suspected of being involved in kidnappings, but it’s unclear if they are law enforcement. We’ve had those reports.” He urged the community to report any such incidents, saying, “If you see something like that, and you’re unsure if someone is a law enforcement officer, you should call 911 and provide as much detail as possible.”

Additionally, O’Hara emphasized that the city’s sanctuary laws prevent local police from cooperating with federal immigration agents, stressing that “it’s against the law.” He also highlighted how the methods of federal immigration operations are instilling fear in the community. “As a human being, it’s troubling to see Americans in our community feeling terrorized by this approach,” he remarked. “I worry that people who might require help will hesitate to call 911.”

His remarks come against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement activities within Minnesota, which seem to be a reaction to fraud scandals involving the Somali community in the area.

The New York Post reported that the Trump administration deployed over 100 ICE agents to Minneapolis, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noting that numerous visa holders in Minnesota are suspected of participating in immigration fraud. This follows a recent inspection of 1,000 immigrant households by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agents.

Earlier, in September, the Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated legal action against Minnesota and its cities, arguing that local sanctuary policies hinder federal immigration enforcement, potentially allowing dangerous criminals to evade deportation.

USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow highlighted various forms of fraud encountered by officers, mentioning issues like marriage fraud, visa overstays, and misuse of work visas.

The White House’s Rapid Response account has begun sharing information and images of individuals taken into custody during these operations. For instance, one post detailed Abdulkadir Sharif Adbi, described as a dangerous illegal immigrant from Somalia with ties to gangs and a significant criminal history. Another post mentioned Sahal Osman Shidane, identified as a sex offender with convictions involving minors.