ICE presence shifts to suburbs as Dakota County reports increased coordination
Community reporting and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office say ICE activity and arrests are increasingly concentrated in Twin Cities suburbs, with a "noticeable increase" in ICE communication over the past two weeks and some—but not consistent—advance notice of enforcement actions, prompting heightened vigilance among residents. This shift follows federal officials' announcement that Operation Metro Surge concluded on Feb. 12 and that roughly 1,000 of about 3,000 agents had left Minnesota; DHS has not provided updated agent counts, and Gov. Tim Walz says there are about 150 federal immigration agents in the state under normal circumstances.
📌 Key Facts
- Operation Metro Surge was publicly declared concluded by Border Czar Tom Homan on Feb. 12; he said about 1,000 of roughly 3,000 agents had already left Minnesota.
- The Department of Homeland Security declined to provide FOX 9 with updated, precise figures on how many ICE agents remain in the Twin Cities.
- The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office reports a noticeable increase in ICE communication over the past two weeks and says ICE has begun providing advance notice of some enforcement actions, though not consistently.
- Community-run tracker iceout.org and local reports show sightings and arrests are now concentrated in metro suburbs.
- Gov. Tim Walz has said that under normal circumstances there are about 150 federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
📊 Relevant Data
Population growth in Eden Prairie and surrounding Twin Cities suburbs entering the 2020s has been largely driven by international immigration to the Twin Cities area.
State demographer outlines shifting trends in Eden Prairie — EP Local News
ICE has shifted enforcement activities to suburban areas in Minnesota to avoid the community resistance and protests that frequently disrupted operations in densely populated urban areas like Minneapolis, where agents could be quickly outnumbered by observers.
'It's happening here': ICE turns quiet Minnesota suburbs into conflict zones — The Guardian
70% of all ICE arrests nationwide are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S., meaning 30% of arrests involve individuals without criminal charges or convictions.
DHS Highlights More Worst of Worst Including Multiple Murderers, Sexual Predators, and Gang Members Arrested in Minnesota on January 21st — Department of Homeland Security
Minnesota's Department of Corrections has documented 68 instances where the Department of Homeland Security falsely claimed that ICE made arrests in cases where no arrest actually occurred.
Minnesota corrections commissioner disputes ICE arrest numbers — NPR
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Border czar Tom Homan publicly declared Operation Metro Surge concluded on Feb. 12, saying about 1,000 of roughly 3,000 agents had already left Minnesota.
- DHS has not provided updated numbers on how many ICE agents remain in the Twin Cities; the agency declined to give precise figures to FOX 9.
- The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office reports a 'noticeable increase' in ICE communication over the past two weeks and says ICE has begun providing advance notice of some enforcement actions, though not consistently.
- Sightings and arrests now appear concentrated in metro suburbs, as tracked by the community‑run iceout.org reporting site.
- Gov. Tim Walz has previously said that under normal circumstances there are about 150 federal immigration agents in Minnesota.