United States Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Minneapolis may be subject to a greater presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, calling on civilians to support law enforcement officers in the city during an Oct. 24 press conference.

Her statements come after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Portland, Oregon and several other cities. Noem did not confirm whether Trump plans to send troops to Minneapolis. 

The University of Minnesota is a major facet of the Minneapolis community. If Noem’s words were to take effect, it would undoubtedly impact our campus — especially the international student population at the University. 

Immigrant Defense Network member and University student Eva Pena said that although Noem’s statements were alarming, immigrant communities should avoid giving in to fearmongering from the Trump administration.

“I think it’s essential to understand that it’s also a part of a broader campaign of fear that is targeting our immigrant communities,” Pena said. “There is an importance to take these threats seriously and verify these in a factual manner. However, doing so, we need to do that without spreading more fear.”

Pena said she comes from an immigrant family and believes support must be allocated to affected communities.

“I had a mixed-status household growing up,” Pena said. “I definitely see these impacts on family members, on classmates, on community members, and it’s very alarming, and there’s definitely a need for empowerment in this time.”

In the Twin Cities area, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has focused on immigration fraud through Operation Twin Shield, conducted jointly with ICE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The investigation analyzed immigration benefits applications, like marriage certificates or work authorizations, finding 275 cases of suspected fraud out of more than 1,000 inspected incidents. 

While the operation was underway, USCIS allegedly targeted international students living in various apartment complexes in the area. Agents questioned residents about Optional Practical Training applications, a benefit for students with F-1 visas allowing them to work in the U.S. for 12 months before or after their studies. 

In her press conference, Noem praised the work done by law enforcement officers during Operation Twin Shield.

“It has been incredible the work that these officers have done in conjunction with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to make sure that those individuals no longer get to break our laws and aren’t held to consequences of it,” Noem said. 

The operation also investigated abuse of F-1 and H-1B visas, which international students typically utilize.

In March, University international graduate student Doğukan Gunaydin was detained by ICE for two months before a judge blocked his deportation. One month later, a rapid response brief from the University revealed 11 international students had their visas revoked.  

The intentions are clear: international students are being targeted by USCIS and ICE.

If Noem’s threats were to come to fruition, international students would be put at even greater risk. 

Pena said the University has not helped relieve the stress brought on by increased pressure from ICE on impacted students.

“I definitely think that the U could be doing more in outreach to students that this could possibly impact,” Pena said. “I personally haven’t received anything from the University that has alleviated any of the stress or fear that I know a lot of my classmates and family members are feeling.”

In the past, the University has experienced sharp criticism for entanglements with ICE.

After Trump assumed his second term in January, the University stated they would comply with court-backed ICE requests. The University maintains that it would not provide information about students without a court-ordered warrant or subpoena, and that they do not track students’ immigration status.

The University’s decision to obey federal immigration orders in conjunction with the Operation Twin Shield investigations into students has prompted strong opposition from student groups.  

In May, reporting showed the University had leased out its own gun range to ICE, accruing more than $18,000 from 2022 to 2025. Though the University terminated the contract starting in December, knowledge of the University’s direct involvement with ICE enforcement degraded students’ trust in the University.

With the context of the administration’s past ICE involvement, the lack of transparency regarding the University’s stance on Noem’s statements and greater attacks on immigrant communities may read as dubious. 

In an email statement to the Minnesota Daily, the University reaffirmed its commitment to international students and linked to several resources available to impacted individuals.

“International students and scholars have been and will always be an essential part of the University of Minnesota, bringing new knowledge and experiences to our University for 150 years,” the University said in the statement. “They — and other employees and students who are affected by immigration policies — will be a vital part of the success of our state and the University long into the future.”

I believe the University genuinely cares about the well-being of its international students and other community members impacted by changing immigration policies.

However, actions are just as important as words, and the University has been inconsistent in its advocacy for its vulnerable populations. 

International and other impacted students deserve to feel heard, supported and understood by the administration that benefits financially from their attendance at the University. 

As Noem’s statements demonstrate, attacks on immigrant communities will not slow down anytime soon and students need to know that the University is willing to fight for them and their rights to study and work peacefully in the U.S.

“There should be more outreach essentially and messaging that is sent to all students of the University of Minnesota and sharing resources and possibly just acknowledging the way that students are feeling at the moment and understanding that this is a really big issue that needs to be addressed,” Pena said.