what happened in minnesota with ice
Recent ICE Tensions in Minnesota Escalate Community Fears Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort launched in December 2025, has brought thousands of ICE and DHS agents to the Twin Cities area, sparking widespread controversy and legal battles. This operation under the Trump administration aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants but quickly drew criticism for aggressive tactics, including armed and masked agents conducting street apprehensions near schools, bus stops, and gas stations.
Key Timeline of Events
Here's a chronological breakdown of major developments based on reports up to early February 2026:
Date| Event| Details
---|---|---
Dec 2025| Operation Metro Surge begins 7| Thousands of federal agents deploy
to Minneapolis-St. Paul for immigration raids.
Jan 2026| Fatal shootings occur 13| Two U.S. citizens, including Alex Pretti,
killed during ICE encounters; video evidence contradicts initial federal
claims labeling victims as aggressors.
Jan 22-29| Internal ICE shifts 2| New orders limit interactions with
"agitators"; Border Patrol commander demoted; focus turns "targeted" under Tom
Homan.
Jan 23| Lawsuit filed 7| Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul sue to halt
operation, calling it a "federal invasion" with unwarranted arrests and
excessive force.
Jan 30-Feb 1| Protests erupt 910| Thousands march in Minnesota; nationwide
student walkouts demand end to ICE tactics and independent probes.
Jan 31| Vehicle crash during apprehension 1| ICE vehicle involved in incident
amid ongoing operations.
Feb 1-2| Court rulings and statements 1| Judge allows operation to continue
despite harms like school disruptions and business impacts; calls grow for
murder charges against agents.
Feb 2| No pullback signs 14| Homan claims de-escalation, but Trump
contradicts; residents report more agents; kids now carry passports to school.
Community Impact and Reactions
- Fear in daily life : Parents worry about children near enforcement hotspots; school attendance drops, emergency responses delay, and small businesses suffer.
- Local leaders speak out : Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vows to fight on; Superintendent Zena Stenvik notes students in ICE custody.
- State-federal clash : Minnesota officials accuse DHS of misleading claims; separate suit preserves shooting evidence.
- Resident voices : South Minneapolis locals see escalation, not reduction; southern counties mixed on support.
**> "Labeling this situation as a 'battlefield' isn't an exaggeration. The imagery of ICE... resemble a military presence." – Strandjord to CNN **
Legal and Political Outlook
A federal judge denied a preliminary injunction, balancing harms against enforcement needs, but acknowledged "heartbreaking consequences." Homan oversees a potential wind-down, yet Trump's "no pullback" stance fuels uncertainty. Protests and probes continue, with Minnesota pushing for clarity on targets, timelines, and independent investigations into the deaths.
TL;DR : ICE's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota led to deadly shootings, massive protests, lawsuits, and ongoing federal presence as of Feb 2026—de- escalation promised but not yet seen.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.