ICE Arrests in Minnesota Cross 3,000 Under “Operation Metro Surge,” DHS Says

Arrests linked to a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota have crossed 3,000 since December, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The operation, known as “Operation Metro Surge,” began in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas before expanding across the state, and has reportedly resulted in the detention of both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens during the past two months.

DHS officials said that the arrests include a significant number of individuals who were involved in protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at DHS, told ABC News that many of those detained were connected to demonstrations opposing ICE activity, including ongoing protests in Minneapolis. DHS stated that around 150 of the people arrested were American citizens who are accused of attacking law enforcement officers or attempting to obstruct federal operations.

McLaughlin described some protesters as violent offenders and claimed that several incidents included alleged assaults on officers, damage to federal property, and acts such as burning vehicles and tires. She said that others were arrested for refusing to comply with federal instructions and maintained that federal officers used only the level of force they considered necessary to protect themselves, the public, and government assets.

The enforcement campaign is described by federal authorities as an effort to combat undocumented immigration and carry out removals. However, the operation has generated widespread criticism and raised allegations of intimidation, excessive force, and harassment. Tensions increased sharply after the reported death of an American woman during an ICE-related incident on January 7, which sparked renewed protests in Minneapolis and intensified public debate about the scope and methods of immigration enforcement in the state.