Hibbing, Minnesota — Federal authorities say eight undocumented immigrants were taken into custody during a drug bust at a Hibbing restaurant on Wednesday afternoon, marking one of the largest immigration-related enforcement actions in the region this year.
Drug Bust Leads to Federal Action
According to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), agents from several federal agencies — including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Border Patrol, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — joined the Lake Superior Violent Offenders Task Force to carry out a coordinated operation targeting a business located near East 18th Street and Third Avenue East in Hibbing.
St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay confirmed that one suspect was initially arrested for selling cocaine and illegal firearm possession. Ramsay said the individual was also found with several fake identification documents, which led to further federal involvement.
ICE Agents Detain Several Undocumented Workers
Following the primary arrest, witnesses told Northern News Now that ICE agents began detaining restaurant employees who could not provide legal documentation.
“The Sheriff’s Office is aware that federal law enforcement took additional actions during this search warrant,” Ramsay said in a statement. “The federal investigation is independent of this case; therefore, we have nothing further to add.”
ICE later confirmed that eight individuals were detained for immigration violations and are currently in federal custody pending immigration proceedings, as per CBS.
Part of Larger Federal Crackdown
The Hibbing operation is the latest in a series of federal enforcement actions across Minnesota, part of an ongoing effort to curb criminal activity involving undocumented immigrants.
Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Minneapolis, highlighting ICE’s increased presence and enforcement activity across the state. According to Noem, more than 4,300 individuals who were “committing crimes and here illegally” have been arrested in Minnesota since January, with 3,316 of them having prior criminal histories.
Growing Federal Activity in Minnesota
Earlier this month, a roofing crew of four men was detained by ICE in St. Paul, after agents discovered that three had criminal records and were scheduled for deportation. The Hibbing raid now adds to a pattern of intensified immigration enforcement across the state, particularly in industries employing large numbers of undocumented workers.
Ongoing Investigation
The Lake Superior Violent Offenders Task Force continues to investigate the drug trafficking portion of the case, while ICE handles the immigration-related detentions. Authorities have not released the names of those arrested, and officials have not confirmed whether the restaurant owner could face criminal or civil penalties related to the employment of undocumented workers.
Residents in Hibbing expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the crackdown, while others raised concerns about targeting immigrant laborers.
What are your thoughts on ICE’s expanding enforcement operations in Minnesota? Do you believe raids like this make communities safer or create fear among workers? Share your views in the comments below.
