Sponsor: County Manager's Office
Title
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Updates on Ramsey County’s Response to Operation Metro Surge
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Recommendation
recommendation
None - for discussion only.
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Background and Rationale
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The Federal Government launched Operation Metro Surge (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
In a unanimous vote on February 3, 2026, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners condemned the aggressive tactics used by federal immigration enforcement agents and mourned the loss of life, physical injury and community trauma resulting from the Surge. Commissioners also called for an independent investigation of the “preventable and brutal” killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.
The board resolution from February 3, 2026, also directed the County Manager to establish a structured and coordinated response to the Surge and take specific steps to address the operational and community impacts of the surge. The County Manager mobilized a Surge Response Core Team to coordinate response efforts, ensure appropriate resourcing, and facilitate effective decision-making. The Surge Response Core Team has implemented the directives from the board, including the initiatives and efforts described below.
Planning for and mitigating long term mental health and economic impacts to the community.
In mid-February, the Federal Administration announced that the Surge would be ending and that thousands of agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota. It is not clear how many federal agents remain in Minnesota, but the Surge will have impacts for the Ramsey County community that will remain long after the Surge has officially ended.
Mental health:
Recent assessments of the Surge describe it as a “protection crisis” because its effects go beyond physical safety and deeply impact mental health. The Surge has caused heightened anxiety due to fear or raids, detention, and family disruption. Many children in immigrant and refugee families are withdrawing from school and social activities, increasing their risk of depression and anxiety. In addition, the fear of being targeted by immigration enforcement is preventing residents from seeking care.
To help address this crisis, the county will provide $75,000 in one-time funds to the Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative (RCCMHC) to strengthen access to mental health and basic needs supports during a time of increased referrals, prolonged service waitlists, and heightened community stress. Funding will support proactive outreach, cross-system collaboration, and timely resource navigation to community services as well as psychoeducation, skill building, resilience coaching to ensure families are not left without support while awaiting services. This prioritizes equitable access, stabilization, and reduced risk of crisis for youth and caregivers while supporting system recovery following a period of surge-related strain.
Economic hardships and Temporary Property Tax Relief:
The Surge created disruptions to work and decreased revenue for local businesses, resulting in financial strain. To address this strain, the county is implementing a temporary two-month property tax payment extension for first half 2026 property tax payments. Eligible property owners can pay property taxes up to two months past the typical deadline without paying late payment penalties. This temporary extension is designed to support homeowners and small businesses experiencing short-term disruptions, preventing penalties that would exacerbate financial strain, while maintaining fairness and fiscal responsibility.
Under Minnesota law, counties are authorized to address certain tax adjustments and abatements. Specifically, Minnesota Statute 279.01, subdivision 2 authorizes counties to abate penalties for late payment of property taxes, which may have the effect of temporarily deferring property tax due dates. The County Board has previously delegated the authority to waive or adjust current year penalties to the County Treasurer. No further delegation is needed to implement this proposal.
The two-month extension applies to the following property types:
1. Homestead Properties
• Non-escrowed homestead properties
2. Small Businesses
• Non-escrowed small businesses
• Annual property tax obligation of $50,000 or less
3. Residential Non-Homestead Properties
• One- to three-unit properties
• Annual property tax obligation of $20,000 or less
To ensure proper documentation and compliance with statutory requirements, the county will create and implement a Property Tax Extension Application Form to administer this temporary relief program.
• The form will be available online and in paper format.
• Applications must be submitted no later than July 15, 2026.
• Approved applicants may remit property tax payments up to two months after the standard due date.
• No late penalties will accrue during the approved extension period.
If payment is not made by the extended deadline, statutory penalties will apply retroactively as required by law.
This action constitutes a temporary, case-specific administrative extension supported by the county’s abatement authority and does not permanently alter statutory property tax due dates.
The county has launched a new webpage to help local businesses access relief resources as a result of the Surge. The page includes links to business relief grant programs and will be regularly updated with additional support services from city partners and business assistance organizations.
Other efforts to address the immediate and on-going impacts of Operation Metro Surge.
The county posted signage to deter unauthorized use and access to county property. Signage posted at parks and recreations sites clearly states that the parking lot and/or grounds are intended for employees and parks visitors: staging, storage, operations base, or other activities are not permitted without a permit. Within county-owned and leased sites, “employee only” signage has been posted to designate non-public areas that federal agents cannot enter without a valid judicial warrant.
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi worked with county Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to develop guidance for residents who are witnesses to or victims of criminal conduct by federal law enforcement agents. Residents are instructed to contact their LEA to file a report. The county has disseminated this guidance internally and to the public through internal training, intranet postings, social media, links on the county’s public website, and an episode of Nyob Zoo Ramsey County (a cultural media program for the Hmong community).
The county established clear protocols for interacting with immigration enforcement agents at county owned or leased sites, which bar agents from accessing non-public spaces without a valid judicial warrant or exigent circumstances. A new training was created and launched to help employees understand how to navigate an encounter with immigration enforcement officials while working in the field. Training sessions were attended by a total of 425 employees. The county updated and expanded immigration-related resources available to employees through the county’s intranet, and the Attorney’s Office created a new public webpage with Guidance for Residents on Federal Immigration Enforcement <https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/your-government/leadership/county-attorneys-office/news-updates/guidance-residents-federal-immigration-enforcement>.
To support employees - many of whom experienced heightened stress, anxiety, and other challenges during the surge - the county promoted and expanded mental health and wellbeing resources available through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the Human Resources (HR) Department. HR hosted sessions about stress management, psychological safety, and emotion regulation, and provided additional support and resources through the county’s intranet. A mobile app for the county EAP was launched, enhancing access to resources. In addition, new or updated guidance was issued to help employees and leadership address issues related to workforce issues, including the following:
o Staff participation in Surge-related events
o Requests to work remotely during the Surge
o Contacting emergency contacts in the event that an employee is detained
Programs across the county found new ways to make services accessible during the Surge, including virtual options for residents, when allowed by applicable laws and regulations. Departments provided updates about services available virtually through regular operational reports, and this information was used to create a new public website <https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/your-government/open-government/ramsey-county-response-federal-actions/connect-services> helping residents connect with services and resources that may be helpful during the Surge. The county has advertised this new website through social media and through a new postcard, translated into multiple languages, that is being distributed through county programs, local food shelves, the city of Saint Paul (libraries and parks), and Saint Paul Public Schools. These efforts help connect residents to food resources and eviction prevention programs and services.
The county has coordinated closely with government partners and implemented cohesive communications strategies for the county workforce, legislators, and partners. Departments submitted information related to the Surge through regular operational updates. Information from those reports and other sources has been used to provide accurate, up-to-date communications for partners:
o The county submitted a declaration about the impacts of the Surge for Ramsey County for the lawsuit filed by the State Attorney General’s Office, the City of Minneapolis, and the City of Saint Paul.
o The County Manager provided key updates during meetings of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners.
o The County Manager sent a memo to the county’s congressional delegation on February 24th about the impacts of the Surge.
o The Government & Community Relations division sent a Federal Response Update with related information to Ramsey County state legislative delegation on February 25th.
o The Communications and Public Relations department worked with leaders across the county to respond to media requests with accurate, informative statements.
o A template with messaging for partners about the Surge was developed and provided to departments to communicate with partner organizations.
o An episode of Nyob Zoo Ramsey County <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGD-pW5SFoo> where the County Manager and County Attorney explained the county’s response to the Surge.
The county has provided updates and key information to employees through regular intranet posts, such as County Manager Columns, and communications to leadership.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Ramsey County is the most diverse urban county in the state. According to US Census data, 15.7% of the county’s population is foreign born, compared to 8.6% of the population of Minnesota as a whole, and 23.2% of the county’s population live in a home where a language other than English is spoken. The county also has a relatively high percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic resident when compared to the state population.
The 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. The impacts of the Surge are experienced most acutely by these communities, and the county’s efforts are critical for addressing and mitigating those harms.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The county’s response has been informed through careful assessment of community needs and impacts associated with the Surge. Program areas across the county have worked closely with partner organizations and residents to understand emerging needs and disruptions due to the Surge. These have been reported regularly to the County Manager’s Office through operational reports and communications, as described above. The county’s response to the Surge is deeply informed by this assessment of community needs.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
$75,000 in funding from the Residents First Strategic Priority will be used to bolster mental health support through the Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative. There are sufficient funds for this investment. The two-month property tax deadline extension is not anticipated to have an impact on cash flow or a significant impact on budgeted revenues, but it may reduce fee revenue slightly.
Last Previous Action
On February 3, 2026, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the Resolution Condemning Operation Metro Surge and Supporting the Federal Response Action Team (Resolution B2026-024).
Attachments
1. None.