The administration of President Donald Trump has confirmed it is conducting a sweeping review of thousands of refugee cases in the state of Minnesota. The initiative, launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, began in mid-December.
Operation PARRIS: A 'War on Fraud'
Dubbed 'Operation PARRIS' – for 'post-admission refugee reverification and integrity strengthening' – the programme is described as a 'sweeping initiative'. It involves new background checks and intensive verification of refugee claims. A DHS statement released on Friday, 9 January 2026, said the operation initially focuses on 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who have not yet been granted lawful permanent resident status (Green Cards).
Officials have already started referring cases to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the process. In a strongly worded statement, a DHS official labelled Minnesota as 'ground zero for the war on fraud'. The spokesperson added, 'This operation demonstrates that the Trump administration will not stand idly by as the U.S. immigration system is weaponised by those seeking to defraud the American people.'
Protests Erupt After Fatal ICE Shooting
The announcement comes amidst significant unrest in Minneapolis. Just two days prior, on Wednesday, an ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during a large agency operation in the city. The incident has sparked protests in Minneapolis and other major US cities, including Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Demonstrators clashed with police outside an ICE facility in Minneapolis, where crowds gathered on the street where Good was killed. Hours after the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed agents would continue to operate in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota.
Political Rhetoric and Community Backlash
The Trump administration's focus on Minnesota follows a growing fraud scandal in the state, with many of those charged being of Somali descent. President Trump has claimed Somali immigrants 'ripped off that state' and has previously used derogatory language to describe them.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, with census data showing most people of Somali descent living in the US are citizens. Some local officials have pushed back against the administration's rhetoric. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stated last month, 'You commit fraud in Minnesota, you're going to prison. I don't care what colour you are... But sitting on the sidelines and throwing out accusations and, let's be very clear, demonising an entire population... is beneath that.'
The convergence of Operation PARRIS, the fatal shooting, and the ongoing fraud investigations has placed Minnesota at the centre of a heated national debate on immigration enforcement and community relations.
