Minneapolis and St. Paul Enact Temporary Eviction Protections Amid Immigration Enforcement Surge

City leaders take action to prevent mass evictions, but face concerns over unintended consequences

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Across the Twin Cities, residents and leaders are calling for rental support for thousands of immigrant families most impacted by Operation Metro Surge, a recent immigration enforcement operation. In response, Minneapolis has passed an ordinance extending the eviction timeline from 30 to 60 days, while St. Paul is considering a similar measure. However, these efforts face pushback from some affordable housing providers and landlords who worry the extensions could actually increase evictions by allowing residents to fall further behind on rent. City leaders and housing advocates acknowledge the need for state-level rental assistance to truly address the crisis.

Why it matters

The eviction crisis facing the Twin Cities is a direct result of the recent Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement operation that has disrupted the lives of thousands of immigrant families. With many breadwinners detained or deported, these families are struggling to pay rent and facing the threat of mass evictions. The city-level efforts to extend eviction timelines are an attempt to provide temporary relief, but the long-term solution requires substantial state funding for emergency rental assistance.

The details

The Minneapolis City Council passed an ordinance 7-5 giving renters 60 days instead of 30 to pay rent before facing eviction. Some council members and affordable housing providers argued this could actually increase evictions by allowing residents to fall further behind. In St. Paul, a similar ordinance is under consideration with a final vote likely on March 18. Both cities have also redirected millions in funding towards emergency rental assistance, but advocates say state-level aid is crucial to truly address the crisis.

  • The Minneapolis City Council passed the eviction timeline extension ordinance on March 5, 2026.
  • The St. Paul City Council is expected to vote on a similar ordinance on March 18, 2026.
  • In early February 2026, Minneapolis put more than $1 million towards Hennepin County's $9.6 million in emergency rent relief.
  • On February 26, 2026, St. Paul redirected $1.42 million into emergency rental assistance.
  • A $50 million state bill for emergency rental assistance was voted down in a Minnesota House committee earlier in March 2026.

The players

Minneapolis City Council

The legislative body of the city of Minneapolis that passed the 60-day eviction timeline extension ordinance.

St. Paul City Council

The legislative body of the city of St. Paul that is considering a similar eviction timeline extension ordinance.

Laura Russ

The chief real estate officer at Aeon, a Minnesota nonprofit that owns 5,885 homes across the state, who expressed concerns about the unintended consequences of the eviction timeline extensions.

Eric Hauge

The co-executive director of HomeLine, a Minnesota tenant advocacy organization that supports the eviction timeline extension.

Nick Graetz

A University of Minnesota-based research collaborator at Princeton University's Eviction Lab, who provided analysis on the need for substantial state-level rental assistance to address the crisis.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of unanimity about this ICE surge having a dramatic impact on renters, but that impact shouldn't force a 'misguided policy'.”

— Laura Russ, Chief Real Estate Officer, Aeon

“I don't think it's quite fair to compare it to the pandemic. This is a temporary solution to a temporary problem.”

— Eric Hauge, Co-Executive Director, HomeLine

“It's something that at some point we're going to have to deal with on that structural level.”

— Nick Graetz, Research Collaborator, Eviction Lab (MinnPost)

What’s next

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has until March 12 to decide whether to veto the city's 60-day eviction timeline extension ordinance. If approved, a similar ordinance in St. Paul is expected to be voted on by the city council on March 18 and would last through the end of 2026.

The takeaway

The eviction crisis facing the Twin Cities is a complex issue that requires a multi-pronged approach, including temporary city-level protections as well as substantial state-level rental assistance funding. While the cities' efforts aim to provide immediate relief, long-term solutions must address the structural lack of affordable housing and emergency aid that has left so many vulnerable to displacement.