Key facts
- Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, has officially ended, but its effects continue to impact the immigrant community.
- The operation, initiated in December, aimed to target undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records.
- Two US citizens were killed by federal agents during protests against the operation in January, leading to public outcry.
- In response to backlash, hundreds of federal agents were withdrawn by late February, though a smaller force remains.
- Immigrant residents report ongoing fear, trauma, and economic hardship, with some students dropping out of school to support families.
- Businesses in predominantly immigrant neighborhoods, especially along Lake Street, experienced severe economic downturns and closures.
Months after the conclusion of Operation Metro Surge, a significant immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota, many residents, particularly those from immigrant and refugee communities, continue to experience fear, trauma, and economic instability. The operation, launched in December as part of President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, involved extensive federal agent presence in the Minneapolis area.
The operation drew widespread criticism and public outcry, especially after federal agents fatally shot two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in separate incidents in January while they were protesting the raids. This led to a significant backlash, prompting the administration to announce the withdrawal of hundreds of agents by the end of February.
Despite the official end of the surge, immigrant communities report that the effects linger. Individuals like Aliah, a 20-year-old student who fled Afghanistan, and Fatima, a 19-year-old Somali refugee, expressed ongoing fear and uncertainty about their safety and immigration status. Michelle Eberhard, director of refugee services at the International Institute of Minnesota, noted that people are still processing the trauma, describing the city as a 'minefield of ghosts.'
During the height of the operation, masked agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted raids on homes and schools, detaining thousands. Schools implemented aid programs for students affected by the detentions and job losses among family members. Even US citizens like a Minneapolis teacher named Katie, who helped organize aid, feel the lingering effects.
The Trump administration deemed Metro Surge a success, citing the removal of 'vicious criminals.' While the number of federal agents in Minnesota has decreased, a smaller force remains, and ICE continues targeted enforcement operations, particularly in suburban areas. The ACLU-MN reported that 482 federal agents were still in Minnesota in March. ICE stated it arrested thousands of 'criminal illegal aliens,' though data obtained by the Deportation Data Project suggests over 60% of those arrested did not have criminal convictions or pending charges.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also announced a re-vetting of 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who had not yet received green cards, deeming previous vetting inadequate. This process has led to some refugees being transferred to ICE detention out of state and re-interviewed without legal representation, causing further uncertainty.
The economic impact on the local community has been substantial. Businesses along Lake Street, a corridor with hundreds of immigrant-owned small businesses in south Minneapolis, were particularly hard-hit. According to the Lake Street Council, at least half of these businesses closed during the operation, resulting in an estimated monthly revenue drop of over $30 million. Theresa Swaney of the Lake Street Council described the economic devastation as 'immediate and severe,' with long-lasting effects on the community.