By Trendsetter Tribune 
The Trump administration appears set to dig in on its Minneapolis immigration crackdown, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved a request Monday from the Department of Homeland Security to expand federal operations in the Twin Cities.
According to emails obtained by the Chronicle, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requested space at Fort Snelling, a historic decommissioned military base near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, to house agents, vehicles, weapons, and aircraft. The base, already home to ICE field offices and detention facilities, would now host 300–800 personnel, 10 storage trailers, and facilities to operate five CBP aircraft.
“The Department of Homeland Security requests support from the Department of War to provide existing infrastructure to CBP… to support operations in the Minneapolis metropolitan area,” the email said. Hegseth approved the request Monday morning, signaling that the federal agencies have no plans to scale back enforcement despite escalating tensions in the city.
CBP and ICE have spent nearly four weeks conducting immigration sweeps, initially justified by allegations of fraud at Somali-run daycare centers. The operations have resulted in two U.S. citizen deaths, including nurse Alex Pretti, sparking widespread protests. The infrastructure request also cites Trump’s presidential proclamations and executive orders on immigration enforcement from last year.
Local and state officials, including some Republicans, have urged the administration to end the crackdown, while federal forces are reportedly preparing to deploy 1,500 active-duty soldiers to Minneapolis. Fort Snelling’s proximity to the airport and historic significance has also raised questions about the federal government’s choice of site.
With Hegseth’s approval, the administration is clearly doubling down on its controversial immigration operations, signaling a prolonged and heavily fortified federal presence in Minnesota.