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ICE Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota
January 7, 2026
Federal immigration enforcement operation "Metro Surge" in Minneapolis-St. Paul has sparked protests, economic boycotts, and political backlash after two fatal shootings by federal agents. The crackdown has led to hundreds of businesses closing in solidarity, state legislators nationwide proposing limits on ICE cooperation, and a growing constitutional clash between state and federal authorities. In August 2026 the operation produced a second scandal. Court filings in the Minneapolis conspiracy prosecution — reported by the Minnesota Reformer on August 13 and detailed further in documents covered by NPR on August 25 — showed that DHS ran a parallel covert surveillance campaign, codenamed in part "Operation Puppet Master," against labor unions, environmental groups, churches and community organizations that had protested the crackdown. Undercover agents attended a meeting at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and a public library gathering, photographed license plates, built dossiers on attendees including their families and jobs, and subpoenaed the financial records of unions including the Communications Workers of America and SEIU. None of the organizations was accused of criminal wrongdoing. On August 24, House Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA) sent records demands to Attorney General Todd Blanche and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The Justice Department defended the operation in a court filing, calling undercover membership in the groups it was investigating "a standard law enforcement practice."
13
Statements Recorded
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13 Statements
“DHS crossed the line of routine law enforcement into targeting political dissent — a violation that is unacceptable to American democracy.
“Instead of investigating the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, DHS sought to criminalize U.S. citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
“These are the actions of an authoritarian state.
“Well, I'm not giving ICE or border patrol another dime, given how these agencies are operating
“Homeland Security is not a license to violate the Constitution or our laws
“Americans are horrified & don't want their tax dollars funding this brutality
“will vote against funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE
“The constitution grants Americans & immigrants dignity, due process, & protection under the law.
“I voted NO on today's Republican legislation to fund DHS/ICE. A rogue agency tied to in-custody deaths, abusive detention practices, ...
“We must stop these lawless attacks on innocent American citizens. We will continue to expose the Trump regime's lies and demand accountability.
“We're going through these negotiations right now. I don't wanna see that funding [for ICE]
“If you want to look at what a failed state looks like, all you have to do is look at the state of Minnesota under the lack of leadership of Tim Walz and our Attorney General Ellison and, of course, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. For the last many, many months, they've villainized law enforcement, federal law enforcement.