USA31 March, 20261 min read
ICE Arrests Over 3,700 Immigrants in Minnesota; Majority Had No Criminal Records
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Over 3,700 immigrants arrested during Operation Metro Surge. Most arrestees had no criminal records; two-thirds to three-quarters reported.
Operation Metro Surge
ICE arrested more than 3,700 immigrants in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge. The arrests peaked at over 100 people per day and then declined.
63 percent of those arrested had no criminal convictions or pending charges. Two American citizens were killed during the enforcement.
Legal Challenges and Public Outcry
The operation sparked massive protests and legal challenges. Democratic lawmakers filed suit alleging constitutional violations.
The DOJ investigated protests at a church where a local ICE official served as pastor. A CNN poll found 56 percent thought ICE's use of force was inappropriate.
Fraud Scandal as Pretext
The operation was linked to a Somali community fraud scandal in Minnesota's social benefit system.
Many questioned the legal basis for deploying 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota.