‘This time has left an everlasting scar on our community:’ the impacts of ICE’s winter presence in Minneapolis  

Minnesotan community members are still recovering from the effects of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that swept through the state this past winter.  

 

The influx of thousands of federal agents into Minnesota, coined ‘Operation Metro Surge’ by the Trump administration, led to at least 3,700 immigrants being detained, with roughly half deported, according to MPR News.  

 

For many residents, the operation fundamentally changed daily life.  

 

Rebeccah DeLima, whose parents immigrated from Brazil to the United States, lives a block away from where Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents on January 24, 2026.   

 

“At the height of their presence, I found myself dressing more as a ‘white American,’ refraining from any Latin or Brazil referencing items.” DeLima said. “I hoped that this would lessen their ability to racially profile me.”  

 

The fear leaked into her simple routines. DeLima said she stopped walking to her usual grocery store that was 10 minutes from her apartment, and instead opted for a store just one minute away, trying to be as efficient as possible.  

 

The impact of the immigration operations extended beyond Minneapolis and into rural communities.  

 

Mari Mendivil, whose parents immigrated from Mexico and now live in Cannon Falls, said fear consumed her family throughout the winter, and they’re just now barely feeling comfortable to return to their normal routines. 

 

"My parents didn’t leave the house for months,” Mendivil said. “They felt rejected by this country that they've tried to make home for so many years.” 

 

Mendivil said both she and her parents blame the Trump administration for creating an environment where immigrant families no longer feel secure.  

 

“We don't feel safe with someone like that as a leader,” she said. “The influence they have I think is greater than people realize. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't care about policies unless it applies to them.” 

 

Not all Minnesotans experienced the immigration crackdown in the same way.  

 

Owen Edstrom, a young engineer living in Minneapolis, said he never personally encountered ICE agents and feels somewhat detached from the situation. 

 

“I have a neutral view since I don’t know anyone associated with ICE or anyone who’s affected by them,” Edstrom shared. “I only see stuff on Instagram.”  

 

He added that some anti-ICE graffiti with profanity made the movement appear “less credible” to him. 

 

Meanwhile, healthcare workers witnessed the fear ripple through hospitals and clinics.  

 

Olivia Thomley, a social work intern at Children’s Minnesota Hospital, said patient safety was a concern due to ICE activity near hospitals. 

 

“Patients and staff seemed to have higher anxiety as the presence of ICE around hospitals increased,” Thomley said. “Many patients would have neighbors drive them, so they were not seen in the front of the vehicle because they were afraid of being stopped.” 

 

 Many Minnesotans organized efforts to support immigrant residents through the means of food shelves, protests, and public demonstrations.  

 

Morgan Michalkiewicz, who works with indigenous communities in the Midwest, said she carried a whistle at all times to sound off when ICE agents were nearby.  

 

She also witnessed ICE agents detaining people on the streets firsthand. 

 

“I saw two older men get detained and forced into ICE vehicles,” Michalkiewicz said. “I also saw a couple instances of ICE agents forcing people out of their cars in the middle of the streets.” 

 

Months later, she said the effects are still visible throughout the city. 

 

“I think people are a lot more cautious and timid. There are still signs on many buildings saying ‘ICE isn’t welcome,’ and I know some restaurants and businesses have permanently closed, and others are struggling because people are still scared to be in public.” 

 

Inside Minnesota’s state government, officials were adjusting to the rapidly escalating situation.  

 

Paige Patterson, senior coordinator for Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and executive support for Governor Tim Walz, said the fatal shooting of Renee Good by federal agents on January 7th marked a turning point within state leadership offices. 

 

“We were genuinely living minute to minute and scheduling a lot of things on the fly. We got to a point, frankly, for the whole month of January where we just didn't really plan anything.” 

 

While public outrage following the shooting demanded immediate action, Patterson said state officials had limited authority over federal immigration enforcement. 

 

“The way that our country is built is not for states to have more power than the federal government,” she said. “So there were really limited things, frankly, that we could do even as an executive branch. And a lot of people were wanting to us to use the State Patrol or the National Guard or arrest ICE agents.”   

 

“Ultimately would have put us in a worse situation,” Patterson said.   

 

She acknowledged that while thousands of ICE agents have now been removed from the state, economic losses echo throughout small businesses, and children in schools tell frightening stories of their friends not coming to class. She said the immigrant community is left feeling “disrespected,” and like they “don’t belong.”  

 

“We did what we can to keep people safe, but I think the entire thing was really traumatizing.” 

 

Although Minneapolis has quieted in the last couple of months, reminders of ‘Operation Metro Surge’ remain throughout the city. 

 

DeLima recently walked past the Alex Pretti memorial and noticed fresh flowers continuing to appear months after his death. “It was April and the flowers were still being replenished. There were many visitors still stopping by to reflect.” 

 

“This time has left an everlasting scar on our community.”   

 

Even so, DeLima said she still sees resilience in the people around her. 

 

“I feel encouraged to know that our community stands up for each other,” she said. “We know we are strong together in love and action.”