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Operation Metro Surge

All articles tagged with #operation metro surge

Walz and Ellison Face Partisan Scrutiny Over Minnesota Fraud at House Hearing
politics2 days ago

Walz and Ellison Face Partisan Scrutiny Over Minnesota Fraud at House Hearing

At a House Oversight Committee hearing, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison defended their handling of a massive fraud scandal centered on Feeding Our Future, while Republicans pressed for sworn depositions and alleged a cover-up; Democrats highlighted the Trump immigration surge and its impact on Minnesota, with Walz calling the crackdown politically motivated and Ellison saying it harmed the state. The committee released a report alleging concealment of fraud and questioned when the leaders first learned of investigations.

Charge count climbs to 39 in St. Paul church protest against ICE
politics7 days ago

Charge count climbs to 39 in St. Paul church protest against ICE

Federal prosecutors have charged 39 people in connection with January’s protest at Cities Church in St. Paul against ICE, adding 30 new arrests. Defendants face two counts: conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating, or interfering with that right. The case names multiple activists and journalists who earlier faced charges, with more arrests anticipated as the investigation continues.

Trump’s Minneapolis Push: A Show of Force, Not Clear Gains
politics8 days ago

Trump’s Minneapolis Push: A Show of Force, Not Clear Gains

Trump boasted a surge of federal agents in Minneapolis as a major win for immigration enforcement, claiming unprecedented local cooperation and safety gains. Yet Minnesota sheriffs and officials say no substantive policy changes occurred, with no new cooperation agreements signed and several counties not participating. The operation faced bipartisan backlash and raised questions about its effectiveness and political motives, especially after deaths tied to enforcement and concerns about trust in law enforcement.

Minnesota’s habeas wave: volunteers win releases as Metro Surge detention challenges mount
politics15 days ago

Minnesota’s habeas wave: volunteers win releases as Metro Surge detention challenges mount

Since December, Operation Metro Surge has generated over 1,000 habeas corpus petitions in Minnesota, with federal judges frequently ordering detainees released or given bond hearings. A decentralized, volunteer group of mostly non-immigration lawyers has mobilized to represent immigrants facing detention, even as many are transferred out of state and the administration faces mounting court scrutiny over mass detention policies.

Suburban Stealth: ICE Remains Active in Minnesota After Drawdown Claim
immigration15 days ago

Suburban Stealth: ICE Remains Active in Minnesota After Drawdown Claim

Despite a claim that Metro Surge ended, ICE activity in Minnesota has shifted to stealthy suburban operations—smaller crews, disguised vehicles, door-to-door canvassing, drones and hotel housing—keeping enforcement levels high in the Twin Cities' outskirts while central Minneapolis sees less obvious activity, and observers warn the situation remains ongoing as a new legislative session opens.

Partner of Minneapolis victim condemns federal immigration crackdown
politics27 days ago

Partner of Minneapolis victim condemns federal immigration crackdown

A month after Renee Good, an ICU nurse killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, her partner Becca Good, through her attorney, condemned the federal crackdown, praising the city and urging it to remember all victims by name, saying they chose kindness and calling it 'radical kindness.' The article also notes the Operation Metro Surge that has led to thousands of arrests, the killing of Alex Pretti by CBP agents weeks later, a DOJ civil rights probe into that death, DHS responses, and protests, with officials signaling adjustments to the operation and plans to draw down agents.

Crackdown Overload: Minnesota Courts Buckle Under Immigrant Detention Surge
politics29 days ago

Crackdown Overload: Minnesota Courts Buckle Under Immigrant Detention Surge

Minnesota federal courts are overwhelmed by a surge of immigration-related habeas cases tied to the Trump administration’s crackdown. Prosecutors say the case load, limited training, and detainee backlogs have stretched staff, with at least one DOJ attorney bluntly telling a judge, 'The system sucks. This job sucks.' The hearing before Judge Jerry Blackwell highlighted the government’s failure to follow court orders to release detainees and underscored that agencies must operate within constitutional limits, a concern echoed by judges nationwide.

Minnesota to shed 700 federal immigration agents as crackdown pivots
politics1 month ago

Minnesota to shed 700 federal immigration agents as crackdown pivots

Federal border czar Tom Homan announced an immediate drawdown of 700 federal agents in Minnesota, reducing the Operation Metro Surge presence to about 2,000 agents while keeping security personnel. He said the move aims to end the surge with continued cooperation from local authorities, but local officials and residents warn of ongoing disruption, fear, and detentions affecting communities, schools, and the economy.

Minnesota ICE Cases Highlight Strain on the Federal Immigration System
politics1 month ago

Minnesota ICE Cases Highlight Strain on the Federal Immigration System

In Minnesota, a federal attorney said the U.S. government’s immigration-case system is overwhelmed as ICE repeatedly fails to comply with court orders to release detainees amid Operation Metro Surge, prompting a federal judge to press the agency; Julie Le, a former ICE attorney now with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, testified that the office is stretched thin and lacking guidance as habeas petitions flood federal court and detainees are being held despite orders.

Judge Denies Minnesota’s Bid to Halt Metro Surge in Twin Cities
local1 month ago

Judge Denies Minnesota’s Bid to Halt Metro Surge in Twin Cities

A federal judge denied Minnesota’s request for a temporary restraining order to halt Operation Metro Surge, keeping the large federal enforcement operation in effect. The court found Minnesota and the Twin Cities failed to prove a likelihood of success and noted unsettled precedent. Local officials blasted the decision as harmful and intrusive, while the DOJ labeled the lawsuit frivolous. Minnesota contends the operation violates the 10th Amendment and targets the state, whereas the Trump administration argues the operation enforces federal law amid immigration concerns. The ruling highlights a broader clash over federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

Minnesota immigration enforcement surge continues as lawsuit advances
politics1 month ago

Minnesota immigration enforcement surge continues as lawsuit advances

A federal judge denied a preliminary injunction to halt DHS's Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota while a lawsuit by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul proceeds, saying the likelihood of the challengers' success isn’t clear and citing a recent appellate ruling; the decision acknowledges the surge’s impact on residents and concerns about use of force and civil rights, with protests continuing as the case moves forward.

Court lets ICE Metro Surge continue in Minnesota during legal challenge
us-news1 month ago

Court lets ICE Metro Surge continue in Minnesota during legal challenge

A federal judge denied Minnesota’s bid for a temporary restraining order, letting ICE’s Operation Metro Surge proceed in Minnesota while a broader lawsuit unfolds. The judge said the state’s 10th Amendment arguments weren’t strong enough at this stage to block the operation, even as she acknowledged significant harms to communities. The crackdown has involved about 3,000 federal agents arresting more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants since December, fueling protests and disruptions in daily life.

Minnesota CBP Agent Arrested for DWI After Vomit-Soaked Car Stop
politics1 month ago

Minnesota CBP Agent Arrested for DWI After Vomit-Soaked Car Stop

A 31-year-old CBP employee, Alfredo Mancillas Jr., was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota, on third- and fourth-degree driving while intoxicated after state troopers found him unconscious and “covered in vomit” in a car in a no‑parking zone; he failed a field sobriety test and refused a breath test, then was released on recognizance with a March 24 court date. DHS said its professional responsibility office is reviewing the case as part of ongoing immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota (Operation Metro Surge), which have drawn backlash amid earlier deadly incidents involving federal agents; the week also featured leadership changes, with Tom Homan taking charge of Minnesota operations and CBP’s Gregory Bovino being demoted.