Operation Twin Shield exposes sham marriages, forged visas, and alleged terror links in Minneapolis and St. Paul — shaking America’s largest Somali community.
Federal immigration authorities say they have uncovered widespread fraud in Minnesota’s Somali community after a sweeping operation in the Twin Cities.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Tuesday that more than 1,000 homes in Minneapolis and St. Paul were visited as part of “Operation Twin Shield,” which began on September 13 and was led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow, nearly half of the individuals screened were found to have committed immigration fraud.
Investigators cited sham marriages, forged documents, and abuse of H-1B and F-1 visa programs as the most common schemes. Officials also said that several arrests were tied to security risks, including a Somali man suspected of terrorist links.
“This operation is proof that the United States is fighting immigration fraud,” Edlow said in a statement. “We have a responsibility to protect the system from abuse.”
Authorities did not single out any one community, but Minnesota is home to the nation’s largest Somali population—more than 82,000 people—and has long been a focal point of political debate over immigration and security.
The investigation is expected to continue, with officials describing the Twin Cities as a “hotbed” for fraudulent activity involving visas and residency applications.
