ICE’s Intense Focus on Minneapolis: Operation Metro Surge Sparks Controversy and Violence
In late 2025 and early 2026, Minneapolis and the surrounding Twin Cities area became the epicenter of one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement campaigns in recent U.S. history. Under Operation Metro Surge, launched by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and primarily executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP), thousands of federal agents descended on Minnesota, leading to thousands of arrests, widespread protests, and tragic fatalities.
The operation began in December 2025 with initial arrests targeting undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records or deportation orders. It escalated dramatically on January 6, 2026, when DHS officials described it as the “largest immigration operation ever,” deploying up to 2,000 ICE agents and additional CBP personnel—totaling more than 3,000 federal officers in the state at its peak. By late January 2026, ICE reported over 3,000 arrests, with officials emphasizing the removal of “the worst of the worst,” including individuals convicted of murder, rape, armed robbery, gang activity, child exploitation, and fraud.
The Trump administration, through statements from DHS and figures like former acting ICE Director Tom Homan (who assumed oversight of the Minnesota operation in late January), framed the surge as a necessary response to public safety threats in a “sanctuary” jurisdiction. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have been accused of endangering communities by refusing to fully cooperate with ICE detainers—requests to hold individuals for immigration processing—or honor federal enforcement priorities. Officials pointed to cases where criminal noncitizens were allegedly released back into society due to local non-cooperation policies. Some rhetoric also highlighted alleged fraud in programs like welfare or pandemic aid, particularly within Minnesota’s large Somali-American community.
Critics, including state and local leaders, civil rights groups, and legal challengers, argue that the operation is disproportionately aggressive and politically motivated. Minnesota has a relatively low percentage of undocumented immigrants—around 1.5% of the population—compared to states like Texas, Florida, or Utah, which have not experienced similar mass deployments. Lawsuits filed by Minnesota’s Attorney General, Minneapolis, and St. Paul contend that the surge violates constitutional protections, involves racial profiling, warrantless stops, and unconstitutional tactics such as random street demands for proof of citizenship. They describe it as retaliation against Democratic-led “sanctuary” areas that limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
The situation turned deadly in January 2026. On January 7, U.S. citizen Renée Nicole Macklin Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent during an encounter in Minneapolis. Later that month, on January 24, ICU nurse and U.S. citizen Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed by CBP agents amid protests against the operation. Video evidence in Pretti’s case contradicted initial federal claims of him posing a threat, fueling outrage. A third incident involved a non-fatal shooting of a Venezuelan migrant. These events triggered massive protests, community resistance networks, school lockdowns, business disruptions (especially in Somali and Latino neighborhoods), and calls to abolish or reform ICE.
Leadership changes followed the violence. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who had been the public face of the aggressive tactics, was reassigned and sidelined, with reports of his social media access being suspended. President Trump dispatched Tom Homan, his border czar, to oversee operations, signaling a shift toward de-escalation. New internal guidance reportedly directed agents to avoid “agitators,” focus on those with criminal charges or convictions, and scale back broad sweeps. Trump held discussions with Walz and Frey, expressing a desire to calm tensions, and some agents began departing Minnesota by late January.
Despite these adjustments, the operation remains highly contentious. Protests continue, legal battles persist in federal courts (including temporary restraining orders in related cases), and community groups have formed “shadow networks” to protect vulnerable residents. While DHS insists the focus is on criminal threats and enforcing federal law in non-cooperative areas, opponents view it as a test case for broader mass deportation efforts targeting progressive strongholds.
As of late January 2026, Operation Metro Surge has highlighted deep divisions over immigration policy, federal overreach, and public safety, leaving Minneapolis—a city still scarred by past unrest—on edge amid ongoing enforcement and resistance.
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