Aftermath of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota
Months after federal immigration enforcement agents concluded Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis area, its impact continues to be felt by the local immigrant community. Initiated in December as part of a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the operation, which President Trump linked to a federal fraud investigation, led to significant public outcry and left a lasting sense of fear and instability.
Persistent Apprehension Among Immigrants
For individuals like Aliah, a 20-year-old student and asylum recipient from Afghanistan, the period following the operation is still marked by apprehension. Even with a green card, she expresses ongoing fear for her family, stating, "We don't have anywhere to go if we go back to my country." Similarly, Fatima, a 19-year-old Somali refugee, returned to in-person high school classes with lingering anxiety, frequently questioning what she would do if agents returned. Michelle Eberhard, director of refugee services at the International Institute of Minnesota, notes that the ramifications of such an "invasion" persist, with people still grappling with trauma.
Community Trauma and Economic Repercussions
The operation involved masked agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) patrolling streets, raiding homes, and detaining thousands. Katie, a Minneapolis teacher, recalls students staying home from school, fearing raids, and some ultimately dropping out to support families whose relatives lost jobs. She describes the city as a "minefield of ghosts," with memorials for two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot and killed during protests in January, serving as stark reminders.
The economic impact was particularly severe for businesses along Lake Street in south Minneapolis, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. The Lake Street Council estimated a monthly revenue drop of over $30 million for businesses, with at least half closing during the operation's peak. The US Immigration Policy Center (USIPC) calculated that workers across Minneapolis and St. Paul lost approximately $240 million in wages, and businesses in the Twin Cities likely lost a combined $610 million in revenue. Statewide eviction filings also saw an 8% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Eviction Lab.
Ongoing Enforcement and Uncertainty
While the Trump administration declared Metro Surge a success and significantly reduced the number of federal agents, a presence remains. According to a March lawsuit by ACLU-MN, 482 agents were still in Minnesota, in addition to approximately 190 federal agents working in ICE's St. Paul office before the operation. Morgan Budiandri of the MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) observes that enforcement has become more "surgical," with less visible activity in cities but continued reports of officers in suburbs demanding employee manifests from businesses.
Deportation flights from Minneapolis also continue, though their number is decreasing monthly. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported thousands of arrests of "criminal illegal aliens," but data obtained by the Deportation Data Project indicates that over 60% of those arrested in Minnesota did not have criminal convictions or pending charges.
Further adding to the uncertainty, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in January that it would re-vet 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who had not yet received green cards, deeming previous vetting "wholly inadequate." This has led to some refugees being transferred to out-of-state ICE detention and re-interviewed without legal representation. Eberhard notes that while the initial chaos has subsided, the city is now in a "period of ongoing uncertainty," with some individuals receiving letters threatening revocation of their refugee status.
"The terror inflicted on this community was significant, and its effects on Minneapolis and Lake Street in particular will be long-lasting." - Theresa Swaney, Lake Street Council Director of Operations
Immigration advocates warn that the long-term impact of the crackdown will be profound, affecting not only the local economy but also the community's trust in government and future civic engagement.
Source: The ICE raids are over, but some Minnesotans say they still live in fear