Education and ICE Enforcement

Minnesota leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, are pressing Congress to seek federal reimbursement after Operation Metro Surge—described by DHS as the largest immigration‑enforcement operation and involving thousands of federal agents—caused widespread economic and social harm (Frey estimated about $203 million in city losses) amid sprawling fraud probes that prosecutors say may involve billions (estimates cited range from roughly $9 billion to $18–30 billion) and numerous defendants, most of whom are Somali Americans. Critics, including Democrats and former President Barack Obama, have condemned the surge’s tactics for terrifying immigrant families, depressing school attendance and prompting detentions and at least two civilian deaths, while Minnesota Republicans defend focusing on fraud and acknowledge providing material that helped trigger the enforcement action.