Minnesota police leaders condemn ICE stops that erode community trust

Three Minnesota law-enforcement leaders at a State Capitol news conference warned that a surge of federal immigration activity (Operation Metro Surge) is eroding trust with communities. They cited incidents where ICE officers stopped people— including an off-duty Brooklyn Park officer— demanded immigration papers, sometimes displayed weapons or failed to identify themselves, and noted a lack of coordination and public guidance from federal authorities. The chiefs argued traffic stops require reasonable suspicion and stressed that civil-rights protections must guide interactions; they reported dozens of complaints from officers and community members and said the actions harm both residents and officers who have worked to rebuild trust since 2020. While supporting immigration enforcement, they urged Washington to address the conduct of a small group of agents, against a backdrop of protests and lawsuits linked to the operation.