This page features an archive of daily updates and articles from the peak of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota. Currently, it is no longer being updated.

For new stories on immigration enforcement in Minnesota, visit these collections:

An archive of updates on ICE enforcement in Minnesota from the peak of “Operation Metro Surge.” Currently, this page is no longer being updated.


People take part in a march down a city street

Tom Baker for MPR News

Dan Kraker

Democratic state lawmakers from the Duluth area say the ongoing federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota is having a profound impact on their constituents, even as enforcement activities have been relatively limited in the region compared to elsewhere in the state. 


A man speaks at a city hall while flanked by a man and a woman.

The latest on ICE in Minnesota

Dan Kraker | MPR News

Duluth area lawmakers speak out against ongoing ICE surge

Estelle Timar-Wilcox

A federal appeals court on Monday left in place its ruling against limiting federal agents’ actions against protesters and observers in Minnesota. 


Ben Hovland | MPR News file

Federal court opts not to restrict federal agents’ actions against protesters

MPR News Staff

Frey called it a “productive conversation,” in which he asked for the federal immigration enforcement operation to come to an end as soon as possible. 


Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey meets with 'border czar' Tom Homan

A legal advocacy group says ICE is retaliating against a Native American man following an unlawful detention earlier this month. 20-year-old Jose Roberto Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and Red Lake Nation descendant, was dragged from his car and detained on January 8. ICE then showed up at his home twice threatening to arrest him. 


Native American legal rights group says man earlier detained by ICE is being retaliated against  

Brian Bakst

Gov. Tim Walz has had an initial meeting with Homan, the new lead official for the Trump administration's Minnesota immigration enforcement operation.




Richard Drew | AP

Walz meets with 'border czar' Tom Homan, new head of Minnesota ICE surge

Several people were arrested during a protest against federal immigration agents at a hotel in Maple Grove on Monday night.


Adam Gray | AP

Several arrested after anti-ICE protest outside Maple Grove hotel

Brandt Williams

The attorney for a Hopkins family detained by ICE last week says they are home after being flown out of the state in violation of a court order. 


Hopkins family spent weekend in Texas ICE detention facility now ‘recovering’ at home

Peter Moskos is a John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor and former cop. Moskos told NPR’s Steve Inskeep that in the Pretti killing there was “no threat here ever” and that “the government is lying to us.” 


NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Peter Moskos, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor and former cop, about what went wrong when a federal agent killed a nurse in Minneapolis.



Former cop talks about what went wrong leading up to fatal Minneapolis shooting

Criminal Justice professor and former cop say there was no threat in Pretti shooting 

Matt Sepic

Man released from ICE detention after Minnesota’s chief federal judge ordered the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear personally in a Minneapolis courtroom.


Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images file

Man released from ICE detention, averting order for acting ICE director to appear in Minneapolis

The Associated Press

Prominent Republicans and gun rights advocates helped elicit a White House turnabout this week after bristling over the administration’s characterization of Alex Pretti, the second person killed this month by a federal officer in Minneapolis, as responsible for his own death because he lawfully possessed a weapon.


The latest on ICE in Minnesota

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