US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that no illegal immigrants had been released into the United States in the past six months as his administration continues its tough approach to immigration.
Trump explained during a cabinet meeting, “For six months in a row, zero illegal aliens have been admitted into the United States. Do you believe that? Zero. We had millions of people coming in a year. Millions. Now we have zero for six months.” He argued the country had moved from “millions” of arrivals to “zero,” presenting it as a major achievement in his border crackdown.
Planned operation in Minnesota raises tensions
Trump’s comments came as federal officials prepare for a sweeping immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. As reported by AP, the operation would primarily focus on Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region who already have final orders of deportation.
Teams of immigration officers are expected to conduct a high-priority sweep in the coming days, although the plan may still change. This will likely heighten tensions in the state, which has the largest Somali population in the US.
Community leaders say Trump’s repeated comments about Somalis — including claims that they “have caused a lot of trouble” — are increasing fears of profiling and distrust.
Many Somalis arrived in Minnesota as refugees fleeing civil war in the 1990s. With strong resettlement support and a growing diaspora, they have since become an important part of the state’s communities and politics.
Trump posted on Truth Social on November 21 that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing,” while announcing an end to Temporary Protected Status for Somalis “effective immediately.” He added, “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!”
ICE enforcement continues nationwide
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin declined to confirm details of the planned operation, saying the agency does not comment on “future or potential operations”.
“Every day, ICE enforces the laws of the nation across the country. What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally,” McLaughlin said to AP.
Deportations rise under Trump
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the administration has already removed two million illegal immigrants this year.
“Two million have gone home already, people that were here illegally you have removed and sent home,” she said during the Cabinet meeting. “We’re going to send more home for the holidays, too.”
She also said ICE has hired 10,000 new officers. Trump added that deportation efforts are aimed at “the bad ones.”
Noem recently suggested expanding the travel ban to more than 30 countries she claimed were “flooding our nation with killers, leeches and entitlement junkies.”
Trump vs Minnesota
Trump has repeatedly criticised Minnesota’s acceptance of Somali refugees, once saying leaders brought them in “without considering the impact on schools and communities and taxpayers.” The state is also home to Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American in Congress and a frequent target of Trump’s attacks.
