Minneapolis Tallies $203M in Costs From ICE Surge Operation

City officials detail losses to wages, businesses, housing, and more from federal immigration enforcement deployment.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Minneapolis officials said on Friday that Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement deployment by the Trump administration, cost the city at least $203 million. The assessment pointed to up to 3,000 federal agents operating in neighborhoods and estimated that about 76,000 people faced food insecurity tied to the surge. Officials also warned the city's budget had absorbed more than $6 million in police overtime, staff payroll, and operational costs in January, compounding a preexisting fiscal challenge.

Why it matters

The Trump administration has insisted that it is pursuing only illegal immigrants with criminal records in its operation. City leaders said the scale of the reported impacts threatened core municipal services and amplified needs among vulnerable residents as the operation disrupted daily life and commerce across Minneapolis.

The details

Minneapolis released a 'Preliminary Impact Assessment & Relief Needs Overview' that tallied at least $203.1 million in January impacts, including an estimated $47 million in lost wages among residents who stayed home from work out of fear and about $81 million in restaurant and small-business revenue losses. The assessment cited an additional $15.7 million in rent assistance needs and a weekly $2.4 million cost to meet food needs for approximately 76,200 people. Officials emphasized the totals likely understated the full impact, noting the business-loss figures drew from a voluntary survey with responses from 82 of nearly 1,300 restaurants.

  • Operation Metro Surge began in December 2025.
  • The assessment covered impacts in January 2026.

The players

Jacob Frey

The Democratic mayor of Minneapolis.

Rachel Sayre

The director of Minneapolis Emergency Management.

Tim Walz

The Democratic governor of Minnesota.

Kristi Noem

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Tom Homan

The border czar who announced the administration would wind down Operation Metro Surge.

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What they’re saying

“The damage caused by Operation Metro Surge doesn't disappear just because the operation is ending. Families were torn apart, small businesses lost millions and students had their learning disrupted. That impact is real. But Minneapolis has never let hardship define us. We will do what we've always done: rebuild even stronger—united in the city we love.”

— Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis (Press release)

“This preliminary assessment is by no means exhaustive, and these totals are almost certainly undercounts. The impacts we are seeing as a city will be felt for decades, even generations to come. We need significant funding assistance to meet the urgent needs of our community. This surge has been devastating to so many of our friends and neighbors. It is our collective duty to take care of them as a Welcoming City.”

— Rachel Sayre, Director of Minneapolis Emergency Management (Press release)

“Metro Surge is ending, and that's good news. But we have a long road to recovery. Our small businesses, workers, and children have felt the strain. Now it's time to ensure this never happens again.”

— Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota (X (formerly Twitter)

“Secretary Noem still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States, and she's continuing to oversee the entire Department of Homeland Security and all of the immigration enforcement that's taking place across the whole entire country.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (Reporters)

What’s next

City leaders requested state and federal relief to stabilize core services and support affected residents and businesses as the operation winds down, with council votes on additional aid expected in the coming weeks. Local foundations and nonprofits, including the Minneapolis Foundation's Economic Response Fund, began distributing grants to small businesses facing cash-flow crises.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant toll that federal immigration enforcement operations can have on local communities, disrupting daily life, straining municipal budgets, and creating lasting economic and social impacts that require substantial recovery efforts. It underscores the need for greater coordination and consideration of local needs when implementing such policies.