ICE Raids Harm Public Health, Recovery Takes Years

Minneapolis residents mobilized to protest against ICE and support immigrant community members.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge, which deployed over 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents to Minneapolis and St. Paul, has had severe public health consequences. Research shows that intensive immigration enforcement deters immigrants from seeking healthcare, accessing food and housing resources, and negatively impacts mental health and social relationships. While community groups have stepped up to provide support, the long-term impacts of these raids will take months or years to reverse.

Why it matters

Immigration enforcement operations are public health emergencies that disrupt access to healthcare, food, housing, and social support systems, with particularly severe impacts on immigrant communities. The fallout from these raids can last for years as trust in government is eroded and mental health issues persist.

The details

Studies have shown that Hispanic adults are less likely to get annual checkups or visit their doctors if they live in regions with more intensive immigration enforcement, even if they are U.S. citizens. Medicaid enrollment also declines when federal immigration enforcement rises. Doctors in Minneapolis reported a 50% drop in primary care visits, with patients delaying needed care and some pregnant women requesting home births to avoid encounters with immigration officials. Immigration crackdowns also restrict access to resources like SNAP, WIC, and housing assistance, as immigrant-owned businesses report reduced traffic and up to 80% temporarily closing in some neighborhoods. The mental health impacts are severe, with increased risk of psychological distress, separation anxiety, and long-term anxiety and depression, especially for children who witness family members being detained or deported.

  • On February 12, 2026, the Trump administration announced it is ending Operation Metro Surge, its deployment of over 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
  • In January 2026, immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis and St. Paul reported reduced traffic, with as many as 80% temporarily closing in some neighborhoods.

The players

Nicole L. Novak

A research assistant professor of community and behavioral health at the University of Iowa who has been documenting the health impacts of immigration enforcement for over 10 years.

William D. Lopez

A clinical associate professor of public health and Latino/Latina studies at the University of Michigan who has been documenting the health impacts of immigration enforcement for over 10 years.

Operation Metro Surge

The Trump administration's deployment of over 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents to Minneapolis and St. Paul.

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What they’re saying

“Even before the Trump administration's recent expansion of immigration enforcement, research has long shown that intensive immigration enforcement operations affect people's use of health care, ability to access resources to stay healthy, and their mental health and social relationships.”

— Nicole L. Novak, Research Assistant Professor of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa (Mirage News)

“According to one family medicine doctor, primary care visits are down more than 50%. Doctors and health care workers are reporting that patients are delaying needed care, potentially worsening chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Others report that pregnant women are missing prenatal visits and are requesting home births, even in cases where their health conditions would typically require a hospital birth.”

— Nicole L. Novak, Research Assistant Professor of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa (Mirage News)

What’s next

It is too soon to know the full impact on evictions in Minneapolis, but early reports from tenant advocacy organizations indicate that they have seen an 82% increase in requests for help compared to early 2025.

The takeaway

Immigration enforcement operations have severe public health consequences that can take years to reverse, disrupting access to healthcare, food, housing, and social support systems, especially for immigrant communities. While community groups have stepped up to provide aid, the long-term mental health impacts and eroded trust in government will linger long after the raids have ended.