Central Avenue rally backs immigrant restaurants after Metro Surge
Immigrant‑owned restaurants along Central Avenue in Columbia Heights hosted a packed solidarity event Sunday as organizers, anti‑ICE protesters, church members and neighbors deliberately filled dining rooms to offset losses and fear from Operation Metro Surge. The action, led by the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump (PACAT), centered on Los Cactus, whose general manager says the federal surge scared workers so badly the restaurant temporarily closed and cut hours before recently resuming normal operations. Supporters said stories of how immigrant workers have been treated are 'heartbreaking' and that visible patronage is one of the few tools communities have as federal agents remain active in the metro. After eating, participants marched along Central carrying signs like 'ICE Out of Minneapolis' and 'Legalization for All,' signaling that, even as the administration claims Metro Surge is winding down, organizing in inner‑ring suburbs like Columbia Heights and Fridley is intensifying rather than fading. The event reflects a growing pattern, seen across social media, of Twin Cities residents using "buycotts" at specific restaurants and markets to both stabilize fragile businesses and publicly reject ICE tactics.
📌 Key Facts
- Event took place Sunday at Los Cactus and four other immigrant‑owned restaurants on Central Avenue in Columbia Heights/Fridley.
- Los Cactus’ general manager says Operation Metro Surge led to a temporary closure and reduced hours because workers were afraid to come in.
- PACAT organized the rally, drawing anti‑ICE protesters, church groups and community members who then marched with 'ICE Out of Minneapolis' signs.
- Organizers explicitly chose Columbia Heights and Fridley because of heavy ICE activity and publicity around local enforcement incidents.
📊 Relevant Data
Operation Metro Surge, conducted by ICE and CBP in Minnesota, resulted in the arrest of more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens, including violent killers, rapists, gang members, and other public safety threats, as of February 2026.
New Milestone in Operation Metro Surge: 4,000+ Criminal Illegals Removed from Minnesota Streets — The White House
In Minnesota, Somali immigrants have higher rates of involvement in certain fraud cases compared to natives, with recent data showing overrepresentation in welfare fraud convictions despite comprising about 2% of the state's population, while per capita rates for noncitizens in welfare fraud were 2.57 per million in 2024 compared to 2.77 per million for citizens.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Minnesota's immigrant population has grown to about 9% of the total population (approximately 495,000 foreign-born individuals) as of recent estimates, up from 5% in 2000, driven in part by federal refugee resettlement programs that have facilitated the arrival of groups like Somalis.
By immigrant group — MN Compass
Changes in federal immigration policies, such as lowering the ceiling on refugee resettlements, have influenced migration trends to Minnesota, contributing to a slowdown in international migration after 2017.
In Minnesota, the Twin Cities area has seen significant demographic shifts, with the foreign-born population in Minneapolis-Saint Paul reaching about 16% as of 2021 estimates, including large Somali and Hmong communities, which have impacted local economies and communities.
New Americans in Minneapolis - Saint Paul Minnesota — City of St. Paul
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