Ramsey County attorney urges residents to report alleged felonies by federal agents
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi urged residents to report alleged felonies by federal agents, telling anyone who believes a federal officer committed a felony in the county to call 911 or the local police non‑emergency line so a standard criminal report and local investigation can begin. Local police or sheriff’s deputies will investigate like any other felony and refer cases to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for charging decisions, guidance Choi said is in response to Operation Metro Surge and recent ICE/Border Patrol incidents in St. Paul.
📌 Key Facts
- On Jan. 27, 2026, Ramsey County Attorney Choi publicly urged residents to come forward if they believe a federal agent committed a felony against them in Ramsey County.
- Choi told people to call 911 or the local police non‑emergency line to file a standard criminal report so an investigation can begin.
- Allegations involving ICE, Border Patrol or other federal officers will be investigated by local police or sheriff’s deputies like any other felony and then referred to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for charging decisions.
- The guidance was issued specifically in response to Operation Metro Surge and recent ICE/Border Patrol incidents in St. Paul, and is presented as a reaction to the federal surge rather than an abstract policy change.
📊 Relevant Data
Ramsey County, Minnesota, has an immigrant population of approximately 85,400, representing 16 percent of the county's total population as of recent estimates.
Ramsey County, Minnesota — Vera Institute
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have per capita crime rates that are two to five times higher than natives when compared apples-to-apples, based on recent analyses.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
The primary causes of Venezuelan migration to the US include economic and political instability, accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to over 7.9 million Venezuelans fleeing globally.
Venezuelan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Immigrants constitute nearly 11% of Minnesota's workforce as of 2023, contributing to about 60% of the state's labor force growth from 2019 to 2023.
The Growth and Impact of Minnesota's Foreign-Born Workforce — Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Recent federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, including Operation Metro Surge with 2,000 agents, has led to multiple shootings by federal agents, including the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis shooting: Border Patrol fatally shoots Alex Pretti — FOX 9
Minnesota has experienced escalating conflicts between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement, including lawsuits and protests following ICE operations and agent-involved shootings in early 2026.
A Timeline of Tension: Minnesota's ICE Surge, Protests, and Deadly ... — KROC News
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Choi is explicitly telling the public: if you believe a federal agent committed a felony against you in Ramsey County, call 911 or the local police non‑emergency line so a standard criminal report and investigation can begin.
- The article clarifies that these cases will be investigated by local police or sheriff’s deputies like any other felony, then referred to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for charging decisions, even when the suspect is an ICE, Border Patrol or other federal officer.
- The piece situates the guidance squarely in the context of Operation Metro Surge and recent ICE/Border Patrol incidents in St. Paul, making clear this is a response to the federal surge, not an abstract policy change.