Minnesota Faith, Business and Federal Officials Clash Over ICE Operation Metro Surge as Minneapolis Economy Takes Hit
Faith leaders and congregations have mobilized to resist ICE’s "Operation Metro Surge," backing protests and an "ICE Out" economic blackout in which dozens of Twin Cities restaurants, bars and cafés plan early closures, fund staff to join demonstrations, post signs barring federal agents and distribute whistles, while some hotels identified as housing ICE officers have turned away guests. The enforcement sweep has reportedly battered Minneapolis’s economy—businesses cite sales drops up to 80% and a Minneapolis Fed survey found reduced foot traffic and lower employment—prompting a lawsuit by the state and cities to halt the operation even as U.S. officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, have visited, condemned a church disruption and said federal subpoenas have been issued to state and local leaders.
📌 Key Facts
- Dozens of Twin Cities restaurants, bars and coffee shops plan to close Friday at 2 p.m. in an “economic blackout”/statewide shutdown called “ICE Out,” organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee; named participants include Hola Arepa, Hai Hai, Wildflyer Coffee, Lost Fox, Martina, Metta Coffee and Bull's Horn.
- Participating businesses are taking additional protest-related actions — Wildflyer Coffee is fundraising $2,500 to cover staff wages so employees can join demonstrations, some outlets are distributing whistles for street actions, and several businesses have posted signs saying federal immigration agents are not permitted to enter their establishments.
- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi flew to Minneapolis, met with FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. Attorney Rosen, described Minnesota as “a mess,” confirmed that the governor, mayor and state attorney general have received federal subpoenas (while declining to confirm investigation details), and condemned the Jan. 18 disruption at Cities Church as “horrific,” warning that inflammatory rhetoric can lead to harm.
- Local businesses report steep revenue losses and sharply reduced foot traffic tied to the immigration enforcement surge — some report sales declines as large as 80% as staff and customers stay away.
- The Minneapolis Federal Reserve found that some Minnesota firms experienced dampened sales and slower foot traffic out of “fear of immigration enforcement,” and nearly 20% of surveyed businesses reported lower employment counts citing similar concerns.
- Individual business anecdotes illustrate the impact: at Taste of East African only the owner and manager are working because usual immigrant customers and gig-delivery workers avoid the area out of fear of ICE; staff say people fear that claiming citizenship won’t protect them.
- At least three Twin Cities hotels protesters identified as housing ICE officers (the Hilton DoubleTree and IHG InterContinental in downtown St. Paul and the Hilton Canopy in Minneapolis) were not accepting reservations before early February, with one front desk citing closure “for the safety of the staff.”
- The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities have filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to halt the immigration operations, explicitly citing ‘devastating economic impacts.’
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
"Politico Playbook analyzes recent reporting on the Minnesota 'Metro Surge,' arguing the White House’s sidelining of DHS figures (Noem/Bovino) and installation of Tom Homan reflects a political recalibration away from spectacle‑style enforcement after deadly shootings and mass protests, a move intended to reduce backlash and refocus messaging ahead of 2026."
"A City Journal opinion urging cooler heads in the Minneapolis ICE/Border Patrol surge debate — calling for less inflammatory rhetoric, clearer independent fact‑finding, and restrained political posturing while recognizing the need for lawful enforcement."
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Reports that businesses across large swaths of Minneapolis have seen sales drop sharply, with some reporting declines of up to 80%, as staff and customers stay home during Trump’s immigration sweep.
- Details that at Taste of East African, only the owner and manager now work the restaurant, as usual immigrant patrons and even gig-delivery workers avoid the area out of fear of ICE; manager Hibaq Nimale says 'even if you tell ICE you’re a citizen they won’t listen.'
- Cites new Minneapolis Federal Reserve reporting that some Minnesota businesses experienced dampened sales and slower foot traffic out of 'fear of immigration enforcement,' and that nearly 20% of surveyed firms reported lower employment counts citing similar concerns.
- Documents that at least three Twin Cities hotels protesters identified as housing ICE officers—the Hilton DoubleTree and IHG InterContinental in downtown St. Paul and the Hilton Canopy in Minneapolis—were not accepting reservations before early February, with one front desk citing closure 'for the safety of the staff.'
- Notes the state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities have filed a lawsuit this month asking a federal judge to halt the immigration operations, explicitly citing 'devastating economic impacts.'
- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi traveled to Minneapolis, met with FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. Attorney Rosen, and publicly described Minnesota as 'a mess right now' with 'constant' chaos.
- Bondi confirmed that Minnesota officials including the governor, mayor and state attorney general have received federal subpoenas, though she declined to confirm or deny any specific investigation.
- She condemned the Jan. 18 disruption of Cities Church in St. Paul as 'horrific' and said such conduct should not occur at any place of worship, adding she has spoken with Pastor Jonathan Parnell and plans to meet him.
- Bondi emphasized that 'no one is above the law' and warned that 'rhetoric causes people to get hurt and injured,' suggesting political speech by state and local leaders can have consequences.
- Dozens of Twin Cities restaurants, bars and coffee shops plan to close on Friday at 2 p.m. as part of an 'economic blackout' and 'statewide shutdown' protest dubbed 'ICE Out', organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee.
- Named establishments—including Hola Arepa, Hai Hai, Wildflyer Coffee, Lost Fox, Martina, Metta Coffee and Bull's Horn—have publicly announced closures 'to remove ICE from our cities' and 'get justice for Renee Good.'
- At least one participating café (Wildflyer Coffee) is openly fundraising $2,500 to cover staff wages and lost revenue so employees can join protests, and some businesses are distributing whistles for use in anti‑ICE street actions.
- Several businesses are posting signs saying federal immigration agents are not permitted to enter their establishments, extending the resistance from streets and churches into commercial spaces.