Operation Metro Surge Concludes in Minneapolis-St. Paul, DHS Announces Major Policy Shift

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has concluded "Operation Metro Surge," an extensive immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Described by DHS as its largest-ever immigration enforcement initiative, the operation involved over 3,000 federal agents and officers, resulted in approximately 4,000 arrests, and was partly linked to allegations of fraud. Following its conclusion, DHS announced a significant policy shift: large-scale, city-specific operations will be discontinued, Border Patrol agents will be reassigned to border duties, and future Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions will focus on individuals with serious criminal offenses nationwide.

Operation Metro Surge, described by DHS as its largest-ever immigration enforcement initiative, involved over 3,000 federal agents and officers and resulted in approximately 4,000 arrests.

Operation Launch and Initial Scope

A federal immigration enforcement operation, later identified as "Operation Metro Surge," was initiated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in November. The operation was described by DHS as its largest immigration enforcement initiative to date. Early reports indicated the deployment of up to 2,000 federal agents and officers, with later information confirming that over 3,000 personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agencies were involved throughout the Twin Cities area.

The operation was partly linked to allegations of fraud, with some cases reportedly involving residents of Somali descent. Former President Donald Trump had previously connected his administration's immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota to fraud cases related to federal nutrition and pandemic aid programs, involving defendants with Somali roots. Ahead of the public launch, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel had announced intensified federal operations in Minnesota, with an emphasis on fraud investigations.

Personnel and Enforcement Activities

The personnel deployed included approximately three-quarters from ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which handles immigration arrests and deportations. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ICE's investigative arm, also participated, typically focusing on fraud and cross-border criminal networks. HSI agents were tasked with investigating allegations of fraud, human smuggling, and unlawful employment practices, while ERO officers conducted arrests related to immigration law violations. Specialized tactical units and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, including Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, were also part of the deployment. Bovino's tactics in previous federal operations had been noted by local officials and civil rights advocates.

As part of initial enforcement actions, agents reportedly arrested 150 individuals in Minneapolis on a Monday. Reports from immigrant rights groups and elected officials in the Twin Cities indicated an increased presence of federal agents, particularly around St. Paul. These reports included agents' vehicles conducting traffic stops and agents being present outside businesses and apartment buildings.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem participated in at least one arrest in St. Paul. Video footage showed Noem, wearing a tactical vest, present during the apprehension of a handcuffed man. DHS identified the arrested individual as being from Ecuador, wanted in his home country and Connecticut on charges including murder and sexual assault.

Enforcement actions included traffic stops and the presence of agents outside businesses and apartment buildings, with 150 arrests reported in Minneapolis on one day alone.

Local and State Responses

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, publicly criticized the federal enforcement operation, describing it as "a war that's being waged against Minnesota." Governor Walz stated, "You're seeing that we have a ridiculous surge of apparently 2,000 people not coordinating with us, that are for a show of cameras."

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara had voiced concerns regarding federal agents' "questionable methods" following a confrontation between agents and protesters. St. Paul City Council member Molly Coleman described one day of operations as "unlike any other day we've experienced," adding that such enforcement can lead to widespread caution and apprehension within the community. Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and Dieu Do of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee also noted an increased federal presence.

Related Incidents and Legal Developments

During the operation, Hilton announced it was removing a Minnesota hotel from its systems after the Hampton Inn Lakeville, a franchised property, canceled reservations for federal agents. The hotel had apologized, and Hilton stated the action did "not meet our standards and values."

Separately, federal authorities had increased immigration arrests in the Minneapolis area in late 2023. An appeals court suspended a decision that had previously restricted the tactics of immigration officers in Minnesota. Federal immigration officers reportedly asserted broad authority to enter individuals' homes without a judicial warrant. Two teenagers were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in south Minneapolis. A St. Paul church reportedly considered legal options after anti-ICE protesters disrupted its service.

The deployment of ICE and CBP officers in American cities also drew national attention due to the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both U.S. citizens, during incidents involving immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Operation Conclusion and DHS Policy Shift

DHS senior officials announced the conclusion of "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota and stated there were no immediate plans for further large-scale immigration operations specifically targeting cities. The operation ultimately resulted in approximately 4,000 arrests and led to public demonstrations.

Under the new strategy, DHS officials indicated that ICE will now concentrate on arresting individuals with immigration violations who have committed serious crimes, adopting a nationwide scope rather than specific geographic focuses. Additionally, Border Patrol agents will no longer be actively involved in interior immigration enforcement operations and will return to their assigned border sectors. Over 1,000 Border Patrol agents had been previously deployed to cities within the country's interior. As part of this shift, Gregory Bovino was reassigned from his commander role to his previous position as sector chief in El Centro, California. A senior official noted that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem plans to prioritize assisting families affected by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and enhancing voting security.

DHS announced a significant policy shift: ICE will now focus on individuals with serious criminal offenses nationwide, and Border Patrol agents will return to border duties, ending large-scale city-specific operations.

Historical Enforcement Context

During the first nine months of the Trump administration, street arrests related to immigration and transfers to ICE custody reportedly increased. This included a sevenfold rise in arrests of individuals without prior convictions, despite previous statements from officials emphasizing a focus on serious offenders. Approximately 75,000 individuals without criminal records were arrested during large-scale immigration operations in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, and Charlotte, North Carolina, during that period.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons reported in a congressional hearing that ICE conducted 379,000 arrests and deported over 475,000 individuals during the first year of the Trump administration. These arrests included 7,300 suspected gang members and 1,400 individuals identified as known or suspected terrorists.