Archive · 31 Jan 2026
DHS Audits Minneapolis Businesses Amid Immigration Tensions
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is checking the work papers of two businesses in the Minneapolis area.
One is a big hospital called Hennepin Healthcare, and the other is a small toy store named Mischief Toy Store.
The DHS sent them official requests to make sure all their workers are allowed to work in the US.
Some people think this is because of recent problems with immigration rules and some sad events that happened recently.
The toy store's owner said the check happened after his daughter spoke on TV about immigration.
The DHS says this is not true and that their check is part of a regular investigation.
A lawyer said there are more of these checks now, and some people think they are being done to punish businesses.
The DHS says this is not true and that their checks are not connected to what people say or think.
DHS is auditing Hennepin Healthcare and Mischief Toy Store for employee work authorization.
Audits follow heightened immigration enforcement and recent fatal shootings in Minnesota.
Mischief Toy Store's owner suggests the audit may be retaliatory after his daughter's TV interview.
DHS denies any link between the audit and the owner's daughter's interview.
Immigration attorney reports a significant increase in DHS audits since December.
- Who
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Hennepin Healthcare, Mischief Toy Store, Minnesota Attorney General’s office, Dan Marshall, Tricia McLaughlin, Matthew Webster
- What
- DHS is auditing employment records of Minneapolis-area businesses
- When
- Subpoena issued on January 8
- Where
- Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota
- Why
- To confirm employees' legal work authorization, amid heightened immigration enforcement and recent fatal shootings
- Businesses Audited
- Hennepin Healthcare, Mischief Toy Store
- Date of Subpoena
- January 8
- Number of ICE Officers in Town
- 3,000
- Increase in DHS Audits
- More than tripled since December
- DHS Spokesperson
- Tricia McLaughlin