Minneapolis on Edge: Federal Operation Fuels Fear, Division as Promised Drawdown Remains Elusive
MINNEAPOLIS — The tree-lined streets and serene lakes that define this city’s postcard image have, for many residents, transformed into corridors of anxiety. A sustained federal immigration enforcement operation, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, has embedded itself in the fabric of the Twin Cities, leaving behind a trail of grief, fear, and mounting legal challenges.
The deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, during encounters with federal agents have become focal points for a community grappling with the operation's heavy-handed tactics. Their killings have sparked protests, vigils, and a deepening mistrust between citizens and the authorities deployed in their neighborhoods.
"It’s not an exaggeration to call it an occupation," said Ryan Strandjord, a Minneapolis resident whose home sits between the sites of the two shootings. "The way armed agents patrol our streets, interact with people—it feels militarized. The promise of a drawdown feels hollow when the reality on the ground is escalation."
That promise came from White House border advisor Tom Homan, who stated last week that federal officials are working toward scaling back the operation. Yet, his vague timeline was immediately undercut by contradictory statements from the Trump administration, leaving Minnesotans in a state of suspended uncertainty. On city blocks, the visible presence of agents appears unchanged, and for immigrant communities, daily life has contracted into a calculus of risk.
The tension has spilled beyond immigration enforcement, threatening foundational rights. The arrest of two journalists livestreaming a protest at a St. Paul church in January raised immediate First Amendment alarms. Meanwhile, the investigations into the deaths of Good and Pretti have proceeded on starkly different tracks, exposing a rift in accountability.
The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s shooting. In contrast, the administration swiftly labeled Good’s death a response to "domestic terrorism," with the DOJ declining a civil rights probe—a move her family’s attorneys, who also represented George Floyd’s family, are challenging with anticipated legal action.
"The lack of a clear, unified federal plan is our biggest concern," Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell told CNN. "No drawdown timeline, no clarity on investigations, and this campaign of retribution continues." Schnell also highlighted a glaring disconnect between federal and state data on immigration detainees, accusing federal agencies of disseminating "inaccurate and misleading" information.
In a recent legal setback for local authorities, a federal judge allowed Operation Metro Surge to continue while a lawsuit from the state and cities proceeds. While acknowledging the operation’s "profound and even heartbreaking" consequences—including racial profiling, excessive force, and shuttered businesses—Judge Katherine Menendez ruled the potential harm to federal immigration enforcement outweighed the grounds for an immediate injunction.
In response, a grassroots network of solidarity has emerged. Residents like Strandjord help organize food drives for families too afraid to leave home. At a recent benefit concert for the victims’ families, performances by Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello channeled collective anguish into a moment of cathartic defiance.
Yet, beneath the resilience, a pervasive dread persists. Parents speak of avoiding bus stops and gas stations where agents have been seen lingering. Small businesses owned by immigrants operate with skeleton crews. The city, as Mayor Jacob Frey stated, is living with "fear, disruption, and harm caused by a federal operation that never belonged here."
As lawsuits wind through the courts and federal officials speak of eventual drawdowns, Minneapolis remains a city in waiting—its idyllic veneer replaced by a daily test of vigilance and mutual care.
Voices from the Community
Michael Chen, 42, Local Business Owner: "My restaurant is open, but half my staff won't come in. They're terrified of being stopped. This operation isn't about safety; it's strangling the life out of our community economies. The economic damage will outlast any political headlines."
Reverend Sarah Johnson, 58, Community Organizer: "We are doing the work the government should be doing: protecting our neighbors. The church has become a sanctuary in the literal sense. We document every encounter, provide legal aid, and pray for a return to peace. This is a profound moral failure."
David Keller, 51, Insurance Adjuster: "Enough is enough. These agents are here because local leaders refused to cooperate with federal immigration law. If you're here illegally and commit a crime, you should be deported. All this talk of 'occupation' is hysterical. They're just doing their jobs."
Anya Petrova, 29, Graduate Student & Protestor (Emotionally Sharp): "This is fascism, plain and simple. They're kidnapping citizens off the streets, murdering people with impunity, and arresting journalists to hide it. Homan's 'drawdown' is a lie—they're digging in. We're not just protesting; we're building the resistance because our own government has become the threat."