Federal Agents Spotted Outside Minneapolis City Hall, Councilor Says

Councilor Jason Chavez alleges agents parked in police spots and blocked a bike lane at City Hall amid heightened federal immigration enforcement.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Federal agents were spotted parked outside Minneapolis City Hall on Monday, according to City Council Member Jason Chavez. Chavez posted photos showing the agents' unmarked vehicles occupying police-only parking spots and partially blocking a downtown bike lane. The sighting comes amid heightened federal immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities area, known as "Operation Metro Surge," which has drawn protests and legal challenges from local officials.

Why it matters

The presence of federal agents at City Hall is the latest development in an ongoing tension between local leaders and federal authorities over the immigration enforcement operation. City officials have condemned the surge, calling for more transparency and accountability, while a federal judge has already placed limits on certain tactics used by agents during enforcement actions.

The details

According to Chavez's Facebook post, the federal agents' vehicles were parked in police-only spaces and partially blocking a bike lane outside City Hall. The increased federal immigration presence across the Twin Cities has already disrupted schools, businesses, and city operations, leading to public briefings and legal challenges from the city.

  • Federal agents were spotted outside Minneapolis City Hall on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • The heightened federal immigration enforcement, known as "Operation Metro Surge," has been ongoing in the Twin Cities area.

The players

Jason Chavez

A Minneapolis City Council member who posted photos alleging federal agents were parked outside City Hall.

Jacob Frey

The mayor of Minneapolis, who has called for ICE to leave the city and pressed for more accountability from federal authorities.

Tom Homan

The Border Czar, who announced a partial pullback of federal agents involved in "Operation Metro Surge," though a significant deployment remains.

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What they’re saying

“Federal agents pulled up outside Minneapolis City Hall on Monday afternoon, a city council member said, with unmarked vehicles filling police-only parking stalls and edging into a downtown bike lane.”

— Jason Chavez, Minneapolis City Council Member (hoodline.com)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

A federal judge in Minnesota has already placed limits on certain tactics used by federal agents during enforcement operations, and advocates say additional legal efforts are underway to impose more oversight on the deployment.

The takeaway

The presence of federal agents outside Minneapolis City Hall is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing clash between local leaders and federal authorities over the heightened immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. City officials continue to push for more transparency and accountability, while legal challenges aim to rein in the agents' tactics.