Minneapolis seeks federal aid as Operation Metro Surge ends

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

As Operation Metro Surge is expected to wind down in the coming week, the City of Minneapolis is seeking financial assistance from the federal government to address mounting impacts.

A Preliminary Impact Assessment & Relief Needs Overview released Friday outlined damage data and identified ongoing needs that city officials say require federal support.

Minneapolis Emergency Management Director Rachel Sayre said the city cannot meet those needs alone.

“We need significant funding assistance to meet the urgent needs of our community,” Sayre said. “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.”

According to city officials, the city reported a $203.1 million hit on the local economy in January alone. That includes $47 million was lost in wages, $81 million was lost in revenue to restaurants and small businesses, and another $4.7 million lost in hotel cancellations.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the damage as “staggering” during a Friday press conference.

“It begs the question: Was it worth it? Was the chaos worth it? Was the fear worth it?” Frey said. “Certainly, this operation did not improve safety, and it indeed decimated trust.”

In addition to the impact to the local economy, Minneapolis taxpayers will also foot a hefty bill for additional city resources that were used in January.

According to the report, more than $6 million was spent on city staff payroll, police overtime, and operational expenses last month alone. That amount could increase, according to the city, depending on how long it takes federal agents to leave.

All of this comes following White House border czar Tom Homan’s Thursday announcement that the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota will end this week.

Homan’s announcement comes more than two months after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities as part of Operation Metro Surge. More than 4,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested as part of it.

Homan said agents successfully apprehended a number of targets throughout Minnesota, who included murderers, sex offenders, national security threats, and gang members.

“We have obtained an unprecedented level of coordination with law enforcement officials that is focused on promoting public safety across the entire state,” he said. “President Trump and I want to thank the men and women of ICE and CBP and partner agencies who have been assigned here during Operation Metro surge, you achieved a great success for the Minnesota communities.”

Yet, since federal agents were sent to the state, the Twin Cities have faced nearly constant public protests. The protests were heightened by the January deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both of whom were shot by federal agents.

Democrats have called for the operation to end since it began, citing reported economic impacts, fear within the migrant community and ongoing protests and riots.

“Families were torn apart, small businesses lost millions and students had their learning disrupted. That impact is real,” Frey said.

Republicans and the Trump administration have applauded the operation as necessary to address illegal immigrants living in Minnesota — especially criminals.

In addition to the economic impact, the report said that an additional $15.7 million is needed for rental assistance due to lost household income, $2.4 million in additional weekly food support, and 50% less client contact with mental health resources because of clients “going underground” for fear of deportation.

The city said it will try to avoid an increase in property taxes, but warns that it is facing a “significant financial challenge.”

“The city is mindful of keeping spending sustainable in order to maintain sound financial footing,” it said in a press release on Friday. “That task is more difficult as economic activity in the city declines while city expenses increase in response to this crisis. The assessment underscores an urgent need for financial assistance from the federal government.”