Eight weeks of Operation Metro Surge reshape Twin Cities
Eight weeks of Operation Metro Surge have reshaped the Twin Cities with an intensified law‑enforcement presence and sustained enforcement actions across the region. Reporting during that period also surfaced a 911 call from a private guard at a Minnesota immigration detention facility in which staff described an ICE detainee who had just attempted suicide and then “kept going” before being killed, providing time‑stamped evidence that could be central to wrongful‑death or civil‑rights inquiries.
📌 Key Facts
- A detailed 911 call audio has been revealed from a private guard at a Minnesota immigration detention facility concerning an ICE detainee’s death.
- The caller was a private guard who contacted 911 to report the incident and provide real‑time descriptions of what occurred.
- In the audio the guard says the detainee had just attempted suicide and then ‘kept going’ when staff stopped him.
- The guard also described the detainee as trying to hurt himself and said a subsequent confrontation ended in the detainee’s killing, adding specific texture to how the death unfolded in custody.
- The time‑stamped audio provides direct contemporaneous evidence of staff actions and statements, which can be compared with federal accounts and is likely to be central to any wrongful‑death or civil‑rights case.
📊 Relevant Data
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have incarceration rates two to five times higher than natives when compared on an apples-to-apples basis, such as among young males.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
In 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody, marking the deadliest year for ICE detentions in over two decades.
2025 was ICE's deadliest year in two decades. Here ... — The Guardian
High welfare usage among Somali immigrants in Minnesota is linked to high poverty rates, with over 52% of children in Somali immigrant homes living in poverty.
How Misreading Somali Poverty Led Minnesota into Its Largest ... — American Enterprise Institute
Operation Metro Surge has led to staffing shortages and revenue losses for Somali-owned businesses in Minneapolis, with some reporting up to 50% drops in customer traffic.
Somali businesses struggle during the Minneapolis ICE crackdown — ABC News
Somali refugee resettlement in Minnesota was facilitated by the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980 and increased significantly after the 1991 Somali Civil War, with federal policies directing placements to states with existing support networks.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Reveals detailed 911 call audio from a private guard at a Minnesota immigration detention facility reporting an ICE detainee’s death, including that the man had just attempted suicide and then ‘kept going’ when stopped.
- Specifies that the guard described the detainee as trying to hurt himself and then being involved in a confrontation that ended in his killing, adding texture to how the death unfolded inside custody.
- Adds direct, time‑stamped evidence of what staff did and said in real time, which can be compared against federal narratives and will likely be central to any wrongful‑death or civil‑rights case.