Walz blasts Metro Surge, invites Trump to Minnesota
FOX 9’s live updates center on Gov. Tim Walz’s new statement inviting President Trump to Minnesota "to see our values in action" while condemning Operation Metro Surge as political theater that is scaring families, hurting small businesses, and trampling constitutional limits. Walz directly links ICE operations in Minneapolis to the killing of Renee Good, allegations that agents are busting down doors without warrants, traffic stops of off‑duty cops "based on the color of their skin," and children being detained and shipped to Texas, and says the Justice Department’s investigation into Minnesota officials is a partisan distraction from federal misconduct. The piece also previews a Saturday morning news conference where ICE and Border Patrol leaders will publicly brief on Metro Surge, setting up a sharp on‑camera contrast between federal talking points and the governor’s accusations. On social media, immigrant communities, civil‑rights groups and many local officials are amplifying Walz’s framing, while pro‑enforcement voices repeat DHS claims that the surge targets the "worst of the worst" even as local reporting and court rulings keep undercutting that narrative.
📌 Key Facts
- Gov. Walz issued a new statement inviting President Trump to Minnesota and denouncing the Justice Department’s Metro Surge probe as "partisan" and "political theater."
- Walz says families are afraid to send kids to school, small businesses are suffering, off‑duty officers of color are being stopped by federal agents, and children are being detained and sent to Texas.
- ICE and Border Patrol leaders are scheduled to hold a Saturday morning news conference in Minneapolis to give an official update on Operation Metro Surge, which FOX 9 will carry live.
📊 Relevant Data
Somali-born immigrants in Minnesota have an adjusted per capita incarceration rate of 5,030 per 100,000 for males aged 18-29 who arrived by age 15, compared to 2,450 per 100,000 for U.S.-born natives and 1,280 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic White natives.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in income annually and pay about $67 million in state and local taxes.
Somali Minnesotans drive economic growth, pay $67M taxes annually — KSTP
The Somali population in Minnesota is approximately 64,354, making up 1.12% of the state's total population.
Somali Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Somali migration to Minnesota was driven by the civil war in Somalia starting in the 1990s, with resettlement facilitated by U.S. refugee policies and organizations like Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR
Operation Metro Surge has resulted in over 3,000 arrests of individuals with criminal convictions, including for murder and child rape, with a focus on Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
ICE arrests dozens of criminal illegal aliens convicted of murder, child rape, and more — ICE
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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