Situation Assessment: Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota
Verified facts, disputed claims, and multiple perspectives on Operation Metro Surge.
Last Updated: January 26, 2026 | Status: Rapidly Evolving Situation
Rapidly Evolving Situation
Executive Summary
Since December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security has conducted "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota, deploying approximately 2,000-3,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The operation has resulted in approximately 3,000 arrests, two fatal shootings of American citizens, a statewide general strike, multiple lawsuits, and escalating tensions between federal and state governments.
This document presents verified facts, disputed claims, and multiple perspectives on the ongoing situation.
Verified Facts
The Operation
Scale and Scope
The Department of Homeland Security deployed approximately 2,000-3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, including ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel, Homeland Security Investigations agents, and Customs and Border Protection officers. DHS has called this "the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out."
Duration
Operation Metro Surge began in December 2025 and was planned as a 30-day surge operation targeting the Twin Cities area. It has since expanded to all of Minnesota.
Stated Justification
The operation was tied in part to allegations of fraud involving federally funded programs, including high-profile cases like the Feeding Our Future pandemic fraud case, as well as allegations involving Somali residents.
Arrest Statistics
As of January 19, 2026, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed ICE had "arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens" in Minneapolis, including 3,000 in the past six weeks. ICE reported that approximately 5% (103 out of 2,000 arrestees reviewed) had records of violent crimes.
Door-to-Door Operations
HSI agents confirmed going "door to door" in the Twin Cities investigating allegations of fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices.
Deaths of American Citizens
Renee Good (January 7, 2026)
A 37-year-old American citizen was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. Video evidence shows Good was in her vehicle when shot.
Alex Pretti (January 24, 2026)
A 37-year-old American intensive care nurse for the VA was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. Video shows Pretti filming agents and directing traffic before being pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground by multiple agents, and then shot approximately 10 times. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed Pretti was a U.S. citizen with only traffic violations on his record and was a lawful gun owner with a Minnesota carry permit.
Broader Pattern
Federal immigration officers have shot 12 people since September 2025 during deportation operations. At least 5 of those shot were U.S. citizens.
Protests and Civil Response
General Strike (January 23, 2026)
Minnesota held a statewide general strike called "ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom." Organizers claim up to 50,000 people participated despite temperatures as low as -20F (-29C). Over 700 businesses closed in solidarity.
Clergy Arrests
Approximately 100 clergy members were arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport during protests. They were issued misdemeanor citations for trespassing and failure to comply with a peace officer.
Daily Protests
Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen daily protests since Renee Good's death on January 7.
Legal Challenges
State Lawsuit (January 12, 2026)
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a federal lawsuit against DHS seeking to end Operation Metro Surge. The lawsuit alleges violations of the First Amendment (viewpoint discrimination), Tenth Amendment (commandeering state resources), and Administrative Procedure Act. A hearing on the preliminary injunction is scheduled for January 26, 2026.
ACLU Class Action (December 17, 2025)
The ACLU of Minnesota filed Tincher et al. v. Noem et al., a class-action lawsuit alleging constitutional violations by federal agents.
ACLU Racial Profiling Lawsuit (January 15, 2026)
A second ACLU class-action lawsuit alleged widespread racial profiling, arguing arrests based solely on ethnic appearance or accent violate the Fifth Amendment.
Preliminary Injunction Granted (January 16, 2026)
U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez issued a preliminary injunction placing restrictions on federal agents, prohibiting retaliation against peaceful protesters and barring use of pepper spray or crowd dispersal tools as retaliation for protected speech.
Evidence Preservation Order
Following Alex Pretti's death, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from "destroying or altering evidence" related to the shooting.
Multi-State Support
Twenty state attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting Minnesota's lawsuit.
Wrongful Detention of U.S. Citizens
Documented Cases
Multiple U.S. citizens have been wrongfully detained during the operation, including Rev. Kenny Callaghan (detained while observing protests), and stepbrothers Godinez and Napoles (detained while attempting to retrieve a work vehicle).
Historical Context
Government watchdog data shows ICE arrested 674 potential U.S. citizens, detained 121, and deported 70 during a five-year period analyzed. Neither ICE nor CBP maintains adequate records to determine the full scope of erroneous arrests.
Economic Impact
Police Overtime
By January 9, 2026, Minneapolis Police had worked over 3,000 hours of overtime. Estimated taxpayer cost for January 8-11 alone exceeded $2 million.
Business Impact
Customer-facing businesses in Minneapolis reported 50-80% revenue decreases. Many businesses closed due to fear of DHS activity.
Wrongful Detention Lawsuits
The Minnesota Star Tribune found 288 wrongful detention lawsuits filed from January 1-21, 2026, compared to 128 filed in all of 2025.
Disputed Claims
Understanding Disputed Claims
The Renee Good Shooting
| Claim | Administration Position | Contradicting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Good was "weaponizing" her SUV | DHS stated she attempted to run over an ICE agent | Mayor Frey stated video footage "did not appear to suggest this." Videos show Good's vehicle turning away from Ross when shots were fired. |
| Agent acted in self-defense | DOJ claims no basis for civil rights investigation | Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled death a homicide. Videos show Ross remained upright (not struck) while firing. |
The Alex Pretti Shooting
| Claim | Administration Position | Contradicting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pretti was an "aggressor" | Trump administration defended shooting | Minnesota Star Tribune assessed claims are "uncorroborated and contradicted by witnesses and video evidence." |
| Agent acted in self-defense after Pretti reached for gun | DHS statement | Bystander video verified by Reuters and Wall Street Journal shows an agent removing a gun and moving away from Pretti less than a second before another agent fired. |
Operation Justification
| Claim | Administration Position | Contradicting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Targeting "worst of the worst" criminals | DHS repeatedly emphasized criminal aliens | ICE's own data shows only ~5% of arrestees had violent crime records. |
| Minnesota was targeted due to fraud | Official justification cited fraud cases | State lawsuit alleges Minnesota was targeted due to voting habits and political viewpoints of its leaders, constituting First Amendment violations. |
Agent Immunity
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| VP Vance: ICE agent has "absolute immunity" | Legal experts dispute this. While Supremacy Clause offers some federal officer protections, "absolute immunity" is not guaranteed for criminal acts. State prosecution remains legally possible. |
Timeline of Events
December 2025
January 2026
Key Actors and Institutions
Federal Government
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| DHS Secretary Kristi Noem | Leading Operation Metro Surge; participated directly in arrests; subject of impeachment articles |
| ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons | Operational commander; described operation as "largest ever" |
| DOJ Deputy AG Todd Blanche | Declined civil rights investigation into Good shooting; announced investigation of Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey |
| VP J.D. Vance | Visited Minneapolis January 22; claimed federal agent immunity |
| President Donald Trump | Threatened Insurrection Act invocation; defended shootings |
| ICE Agent Jonathan Ross | Shot and killed Renee Good; 19-year federal law enforcement veteran; Iraq War veteran |
| CBP Commander Gregory Bovino | Leading Border Patrol component; tactics previously drew scrutiny |
State and Local Government
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Governor Tim Walz (D) | Called operation "a war being waged against Minnesota"; ordered National Guard to standby; subject of DOJ investigation |
| AG Keith Ellison (D) | Filed lawsuit against DHS; stated readiness to challenge Insurrection Act in court |
| Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) | Challenged administration's account of shootings; subject of DOJ investigation |
| Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara | Stated no coordination with DHS; confirmed Pretti was lawful gun owner and citizen |
| U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez | Issued preliminary injunction restricting agent conduct |
Civil Society
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| ACLU of Minnesota | Filed two class-action lawsuits |
| Indivisible Twin Cities | Key protest organizer |
| Labor Unions | Called for general strike |
| Minnesota Chamber of Commerce | 60+ CEO letter on January 25 |
| 700+ Minnesota Businesses | Closed in solidarity with strike |
| Religious Leaders | 100+ clergy arrested at airport protests |
Congressional
| Actor | Action |
|---|---|
| Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) | Introduced impeachment articles against Secretary Noem (January 14) |
| Rep. Dan Goldman, Sen. Elizabeth Warren + 50 members | Demanded investigation into wrongful citizen detentions |
| Multiple congressional members | Demanded suspension of surge after Good's death |
Current Legal Status and Court Challenges
Active Lawsuits Against Federal Government
Minnesota v. DHS (Filed January 12, 2026)
- Plaintiffs: State of Minnesota, City of Minneapolis, City of St. Paul
- Claims: First Amendment, Tenth Amendment, Administrative Procedure Act violations
- Status: Preliminary injunction hearing January 26, 2026
- DOJ Response: Called lawsuit "legally frivolous"; argues state seeking "veto over federal law enforcement"
- Support: Amicus brief from 20 state attorneys general
Tincher et al. v. Noem et al. (Filed December 17, 2025)
- Plaintiffs: ACLU of Minnesota, individual plaintiffs
- Claims: Retaliatory arrests, traffic stops without reasonable suspicion, First and Fourth Amendment violations
- Status: Preliminary injunction granted January 16, 2026
ACLU Racial Profiling Suit (Filed January 15, 2026)
- Claims: Fifth Amendment Due Process, Equal Protection violations
- Allegations: Arrests based solely on ethnic appearance or accent
Wrongful Detention Cases
- 344 cases filed December 1, 2025 - January 21, 2026
- Compare: 128 total filed in 2025; 375 filed 2016-2024
Federal Investigations
Good Shooting
FBI has sole control of investigation; DOJ declined civil rights probe; multiple prosecutors and at least one FBI agent resigned in protest
Investigation of State Officials
DOJ announced investigation of Governor Walz and Mayor Frey for allegedly "encouraging criminals to go out on the street and impede ICE"
Investigation of Good's Partner
Federal officials investigating whether Good's partner may have "impeded a federal officer"
Court Orders Currently in Effect
Preliminary Injunction (January 16)
Prohibits agents from:
- Retaliating against peaceful protesters
- Using pepper spray or crowd dispersal tools as retaliation for protected speech
- Detaining motorists not "forcibly obstructing" officers
Evidence Preservation Order (January 25)
Blocks destruction or alteration of evidence in Pretti shooting
Potential Future Actions
Insurrection Act
Trump has threatened invocation; AG Ellison stated readiness to challenge in court; Supreme Court recently blocked Trump's attempts to use a different statute to federalize National Guard in other states
State Criminal Charges
Possible prosecution of ICE agent Ross; VP Vance claims "absolute immunity" but legal experts dispute this
Concerns About the Insurrection Act
What Is the Insurrection Act?
An 1807 law allowing the president to deploy federal military troops domestically to restore order. When invoked, it overrides the Posse Comitatus Act that normally prevents military from civilian law enforcement.
Key Concerns
Minimal Constraints
Neither Congress nor courts play a role in deciding what constitutes an "obstruction or rebellion." The law does not limit what actions military forces may take once deployed.
Unprecedented Usage Pattern
In the last nine presidencies combined (excluding Trump's first term), presidents deployed troops to quell civil unrest only twice. Trump has deployed or attempted deployment seven times in his first year.
Supreme Court Limitations
The Court recently held that Trump improperly used a different federal statute to federalize National Guard in several states. This may limit but not eliminate Insurrection Act options.
Legal Challenges Prepared
AG Ellison stated readiness to challenge any Insurrection Act invocation in court.
Multiple Perspectives
Administration Perspective
- - Operation targets dangerous criminals who threaten public safety
- - Fraud in Minnesota justified concentrated enforcement
- - Agents acted in self-defense in shooting incidents
- - State and local officials are obstructing federal law enforcement
- - Federal agents have immunity from state prosecution
State/Local Government Perspective
- - Operation is "a war being waged against Minnesota"
- - Minnesota targeted for political reasons (voting patterns, Democratic leadership)
- - Operation violates constitutional protections
- - Federal agents operating without local coordination
- - Video evidence contradicts administration accounts of shootings
Civil Rights/Legal Perspective
- - Constitutional violations documented (First, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth Amendments)
- - Racial profiling occurring
- - U.S. citizens wrongfully detained
- - Lack of transparency and accountability
- - Pattern of escalating violence by federal agents
Protest Movement Perspective
- - Demands: ICE withdrawal from Minnesota, accountability for Good's death, defunding/reform of ICE
- - General strike achieved unprecedented participation
- - Continued civil disobedience despite harsh conditions and arrests
What Remains Uncertain
- ? Full scope of arrests: Actual number and criminal backgrounds of all arrestees
- ? Complete casualty count: Full number of injuries during operation
- ? Investigation outcomes: Whether any federal agents will face accountability
- ? Court rulings: Outcome of pending January 26 hearing and subsequent appeals
- ? Federal response to injunctions: Whether restrictions will be honored
- ? Escalation trajectory: Whether Insurrection Act will be invoked
- ? Duration: When or if Operation Metro Surge will conclude