Federal law enforcement agents have officially started targeted operations in Minnesota aimed at Somali immigrants living in the country illegally.

Most Somalis in the state are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, making the pool of people who would be subject to removal small. And the frigid weather may limit agents’ search.

Immigration operations targeting mostly Somali immigrants are underway in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area after President Trump lashed out at the community earlier this week. It comes as Minnesota is still reeling from a massive fraud scheme worth more than $1 billion involving dozens of Somalis.

SBA launches federal probe into Somali community groups linked to $1 billion Minnesota COVID fraud scandal involving Gov. Tim Walz's administration.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) said Wednesday that the Minnesotan Somali community is part of “the fabric of our state,” comments that follow attacks on Somalians from President Trump. “I

Minnesota hosts the nation’s largest Somali population, the result of decades of refugee resettlements and growing American-born families. Beginning in 1993, hundreds and then thousands of Somali immigrants each year fled war and instability in the East African country to resettle in Minnesota.

The Trump administration is looking into whether Minnesota tax money found its way to al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.