Federal officials said Thursday that a number of those arrested in a raid targeting immigrants in Minneapolis are members of the Somali community.
The move comes two days after US President Donald Trump made derogatory remarks about Somali immigrants, saying he wants to deport them.
The US Department of Homeland Security said in its first press release about the operation that the raids began on Monday, but did not provide a total number of people arrested.
However, the department did release information about 12 people identified, five of whom are originally from Somalia, while the others are immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of homeland security, described all those arrested as “dangerous criminals” convicted of a variety of crimes, including fraud, non-cooperation with a stolen vehicle, sex crimes and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, strongly criticized Trump’s remarks against Somalis in the city, calling on the American public to respect and stand with the region’s Somali community, the largest in North America.
While Trump’s remarks drew widespread anger and condemnation, some of his supporters warmly welcomed them.
