State Fair says federal agents seen on the grounds are providing transportation security
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Photos reportedly showing federal Homeland Security agents stationed at or near Minnesota State Fair gates have spread on social media in recent days.
That’s caused heightened concern, in the wake of last winter’s federal immigration surge in the Twin Cities. But fair officials say those law enforcement officers are not immigration agents.
Rather — they say the people wearing Homeland Security uniforms are with the Federal Air Marshal Service, which is part of the Transportation Security Administration — which in turn is part of DHS.
In a statement, the fair said the air marshals provide “security support at transportation venues for large-scale events such as the Minnesota State Fair.”
The fair has a busy transit hub that sees a steady stream of buses shuttling people to and from the fairgrounds — as well as another transit drop-off point on Snelling Avenue.
The fair said the air marshals are one of “many law enforcement partners” working on the grounds during the event.
Through the first four days of this year’s fair, more than 729,000 people passed through the gates. That’s up about 8 percent from the first four days of the 2025 fair.
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