Trump administration says it's planning immigration fraud crackdown in Twin Cities

Christopher Magan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Sep 30, 2025

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Federal officials on Thursday characterized the Twin Cities as a hotbed of immigration fraud, accusing people of using sham marriages, fake documents and other schemes in their bids to win U.S. citizenship or legal residency.

But officials provided few details of the potential criminal charges that could come from a recent 10-day surge probing suspicious immigration cases, saying the investigations were ongoing.

At a rare news conference of immigration agencies Tuesday, Trump administration officials said the Twin Cities was the starting point for increased scrutiny of the documentation and circumstances of immigrants entering or living in the U.S. The new push is driven by an executive order, and broadens the administration’s immigration crackdown beyond people entering the country illegally.

“What they found should shock all Americans,” Joseph B. Edlow, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said of the local investigations. “I want the American people to know we are declaring war on immigration fraud.”

Lying to federal immigration officials or obtaining residency status fraudulently is a felony and can result in deportation, fines and prison. It is not uncommon for immigration officials to visit the home or workplace of someone applying to live in the U.S.

Called “Operation Twin Shield,” Edlow said the local push relied on unspecified federal data to find suspicious documents and circumstances of immigrants applying for residency. Similar operations are expected in other cities.

“There are red flags everywhere,” said Edlow, a Trump appointee. “We knew Minneapolis and St. Paul was a good place to start.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services probed 1,000 local cases, visited 900 locations and identified 275 instances of alleged evidence of fraud, noncompliance, public safety or national security concerns. There were 42 cases referred to ICE and four immigrants taken into custody.

The cases include forged documents, visa violations and various instances of marriage fraud. There were also “troubling patterns” with organizations who sponsor immigrants to come to the U.S., officials said.

“Fraud undermines the integrity of the system and erodes public trust and we are committed to addressing it head on,” said Samuel Olson, director of ICE’s St. Paul field office.

Edlow praised the local cooperation between federal agencies, but criticized the “sanctuary” policies of some Minnesota communities that limit how law enforcement helps with immigration enforcement. He was also critical of the “reception” immigration officials received, saying they were “harassed, threatened and accused of being scammers.”

In one case, they had to call off a site visit because of safety concerns. But Edlow said they would not be deterred.

“Under President Trump’s leadership we have empowered our immigration officers to thoroughly vet aliens as required by law, and to pursue immigration fraud wherever and whenever we encounter it,” he said.

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