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Operation Twin Shield Overview

Operation Twin Shield was initiated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and ran from September 19 to 28, 2025. This large-scale operation focused on investigating immigration fraud in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. It involved collaboration with several federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Main Objectives and Findings

The operation aimed to uncover fraudulent activities related to immigration applications, particularly concerning marriage and family-based applications, as well as employment-based petitions. Over the course of the ten days, USCIS conducted more than 900 site visits and interviews. Here are some key findings:

Key Results

275 cases were identified with indicators of fraud, which amounted to 44% of the cases reviewed.
Notable issues included marriage fraud, visa overstays, and forged documents.
USCIS referred 44 individuals to ICE and confirmed multiple arrests.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow hinted that this operation is the beginning of a broader strategy to combat immigration fraud nationally.

Impact on the Community

The operation significantly affected the immigrant community, especially international students in the area, prompting protests and concerns regarding immigration enforcement. Residents at several student housing complexes reported visits from USCIS agents during the operation, raising fears among students about their immigration status and the implications of this increased scrutiny.

Issues Raised

Many expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding how cases were selected for investigation.
Local immigration attorneys voiced concerns about the implications of the operation on deserving applicants, fearing unjust findings that could jeopardize their cases.
Future Directions

USCIS is likely to conduct more operations similar to Twin Shield in various cities across the U.S. The agency has expressed intentions to analyze patterns derived from Twin Shield to examine additional pending cases for potential fraud. This shift marks a significant change in USCIS's approach from providing immigration services to a more enforcement-based role.

The reactions from the community and civil rights groups suggest an ongoing dialogue about the implications of these operations and the overarching policies surrounding immigration.