Sponsor: Board of Commissioners
Title
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Ramsey County Board Resolution Condemning Operation Metro Surge and Supporting the Federal Response Action Team
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Recommendation
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1. Condemns the aggressive tactics used by immigration enforcement agents and mourns the loss of life, physical injury, and community trauma resulting from Operation Metro Surge.
2. Denounces the violent and unconstitutional actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, acknowledge the fear and trauma these actions have caused in local communities, and affirm the County’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights and public safety.
3. Calls on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to immediately cease and permanently end Operation Metro Surge.
4. Condemns the preventable and brutal killing of Renee Nicole Good - a 37-year-old U.S. citizen who was fatally shot by two ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026 and Alex Pretti - a 37-year-old U.S. citizen also fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.
5. Requests an independent or parallel investigation to be conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Force Investigations Unit (FIU) to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust.
6. Urge strong and humane protection of our borders while ensuring clear, consistent, and fair pathways to citizenship for refugees, asylum seekers, and others seeking safety and opportunity.
7. Calls for due process for all individuals who have been detained, the full release of all unlawfully detained, including children, and reunification of families.
8. Directs the County Manager to establish a structured and coordinated response to Operation Metro Surge, including but not limited to the following actions:
a. Utilize legal resources to ensure Ramsey County parks and recreational parking lots and property are not improperly appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security.
b. Lead ongoing efforts through Federal Response Action Team encompassing both operational and legislative efforts, to pursue the following outcomes and provide weekly updates to Commissioners on work including:
i. Partnering with trusted community organizations to provide eviction prevention and food security.
ii. Finding additional ways for residents to access county services with virtual options similar to COVID response.
iii. Developing a cohesive communications strategy for the County workforce, subsidiaries, and partners for the purpose of aligned and accurate messaging and to mitigate inaccurate information.
iv. Continue to train staff on immigration enforcement interactions.
v. Review policies and procedures to identify adjustments needed to protect the safety, well-being, and rights of clients, workers, partners, and residents including installation of signage reflecting parking lots are for designated county activities only.
vi. Continue to plan for and mitigate long term mental health and economic impacts to the community.
c. Evaluate opportunities to utilize and leverage the county’s Alternative Response Initiative.
d. Share reporting resources for employees to report unconstitutional or unlawful activity that impact the safety, well-being, and rights of community.
e. Provide high-level periodic updates on county impacts of Operation Metro Surge to members of the Ramsey County Congressional delegation.
f. Engage government partners to assess the impacts of Operation Metro Surge and plan responses to future federal agent deployments.
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Background and Rationale
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The Federal Government launched Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota in December 2025, deploying an unprecedented number of immigration enforcement agents to the State - an estimated 3,000 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which outnumbers the combined total officers working for Twin Cities metro law enforcement agencies.
Operation Metro Surge has involved immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota that, according to media reports and first-hand resident accounts, have disproportionately targeted Somali, Latino, Asian, and other non-white residents. Media reports and information from residents indicate that residents have been harassed, unjustly detained, and physically assaulted by federal immigration enforcement agents during this surge.
Reports describe racial profiling, intimidation, excessive use of force, unlawful arrests and detentions, and retaliation against individuals documenting ICE activities. The tactics used-including armed operations, warrantless searches and arrests, and enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courts undermine public safety. Numerous reports of immigration agents pepper spraying, damaging property, tackling, and forcibly detaining legal residents have emerged during the surge. These actions have caused widespread fear, trauma, and disruption in Ramsey County communities, eroding public trust, limiting residents’ ability to participate in daily life, and hindering county workers’ ability to deliver services effectively. Housing and food security concerns are increasing in Ramsey County.
Ramsey County operations and services have been disrupted. Many residents are fearful and hesitant to access services. Operation Metro Surge is causing fear, anxiety, chaos and immediate harm and disrupting both the lives of residents and the provision of critical county services--deterring people from interacting with government and community programs. Residents have canceled or rescheduled appointments within public health programs such as Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) services, family home visiting, family health, early childhood, family education, and are relying more on virtual services. The county is experiencing and anticipating revenue losses as events are postponed or canceled, and residents are withdrawing from participation in county-run programs and activities. Programs are being evaluated and pivoted to ensure access and availability for all residents when in person connections are jeopardized. These disruptions are compounded by financial strain and distraction on the county, as staff are required to absorb increased workloads and redirect time and resources to address escalating community needs and operational challenges caused by Operation Metro Surge.
In addition, community disruptions are significant for Ramsey County residents including schools pivoting to online learning and businesses temporarily closing. Local businesses, particularly those in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, are experiencing significant losses. Workers are afraid to go to work, customers are staying away, and some businesses have closed operations or reduced hours because of fear linked to the enforcement activities.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Ramsey County is the second most populous county in the state, the most densely populated county, and the most diverse county in Minnesota. As a result, its residents have been disproportionately impacted by Operation Metro Surge, with documented increases in fear, anxiety, and disruption to daily life. Community members report heightened concerns about racial profiling, reduced participation in work, school, and community activities, and a growing reluctance to access public services-trends that undermine community well-being and erode trust in public institutions.
Lawmakers must account for the racial equity impacts of Operation Metro Surge, which funds a harmful enforcement effort at the expense of federally supported health, housing, and food security programs that communities of color and immigrant families disproportionately rely on. These same communities are also those most dependent on sustained federal investment to maintain stability and opportunity.
Continued funding of unlawful federal enforcement destabilizes families, widens existing inequities, and shifts long-term costs onto local governments through increased demand for emergency services, public health interventions, child welfare involvement, and housing assistance-costs that ultimately fall on property taxpayers.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Throughout Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and Ramsey County, residents, community organizations, and community partners have expressed their concerns via various channels. The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, and the County Attorney’s Office have all received testimonies from residents regarding Operation Metro Surge and its impact to their livelihood and wellbeing. The county is also seeing a decrease in in-person services and while virtual options are available, this may be impacting how residents are receiving essential services that require in-person appointments.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this board action.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. None.