The air in the Twin Cities hasn't felt this heavy in years. Honestly, if you walked through Minneapolis or St. Paul last night, you’d think you were in a different country. Thousands of federal agents—masked, armed, and operating out of unmarked Jeeps—have basically taken over the streets. People are calling it an invasion. That’s not a hyperbole used by activists; it's the exact word Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey used to describe the situation.
Last night was the boiling point.
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While most of the country was winding down, Minnesota was dealing with the fallout of a massive federal crackdown called Operation Metro Surge. This wasn’t just a standard immigration check. We are talking about over 2,000 DHS agents from ICE and Border Protection swarming neighborhoods. The tension has been building since last week when an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother, while she was behind the wheel of her SUV. Last night, that grief turned into a full-scale confrontation.
The Chaos on the Ground: What Happened in Minnesota Last Night
It was messy. In Minneapolis, protesters gathered near the site where Renee Good was killed, and things escalated fast. Federal agents didn't hold back. They deployed tear gas and pepper spray into the crowds. You've got images of people scrubbing their eyes with snow just to stop the burning. At one point, agents in an unmarked vehicle reportedly rammed a car during the protests. It feels like the rulebook has been tossed out the window.
Meanwhile, over in St. Cloud, the Somali Mall (Star Market) became a flashpoint. Hundreds of people surrounded federal vehicles to prevent them from leaving after agents conducted raids. It was a standoff. Senator Aric Putnam was actually caught on video trying to de-escalate the crowd, basically pleading with people to let the agents exit so the situation wouldn't turn even more violent. Eventually, the agents used chemical irritants to clear a path and got out of there, but the neighborhood is still shaken.
The Legal War: Ellison vs. DHS
While people were facing off with agents in the streets, the state’s top lawyers were busy filing paperwork. Attorney General Keith Ellison, alongside the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a massive federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. They aren't just asking for an apology; they want a temporary restraining order to stop the surge immediately.
The legal argument is pretty straightforward but heavy:
- Constitutional Violations: The state alleges the surge violates the First and Tenth Amendments.
- Equal Sovereignty: They argue the federal government is targeting Minnesota specifically because it’s a progressive state that welcomes immigrants.
- Racial Profiling: There are reports of agents detaining people simply because they "sounded like they had an accent."
Ellison didn't mince words. He called the agents "poorly trained" and pointed out that local police have already had to respond to 20 different instances where ICE agents basically "abducted" residents without following proper protocol.
Mass Resignations and Political Fallout
The drama isn't just in the streets; it’s inside the government offices too. Last night, we learned that six senior prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota abruptly resigned. This includes Joe Thompson, the guy who was leading the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case.
Why did they quit? Apparently, they were being pressured to treat the investigation into the ICE shooting of Renee Good as an "assault on a federal officer" case rather than a homicide investigation. Governor Tim Walz called these resignations a "huge loss" and a sign that the Department of Justice is being hollowed out of nonpartisan professionals.
It’s a weird, fractured time for the state. While the Twin Cities are in lockdown mode, House GOP leaders like Lisa Demuth are criticizing the lawsuit, saying the state is wasting resources that should be used to catch "criminal illegal immigrants."
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A State Divided by More Than Just Politics
Beyond the raids and the lawsuits, Minnesota is facing a weird mix of other crises. The federal government is currently withholding over $2 billion in Medicaid funding from the state, claiming the Department of Human Services failed to fight fraud. That is a staggering amount of money. If that doesn't get resolved, it could be "catastrophic" for the state's healthcare system.
And then there's the everyday tragedies that got buried under the ICE headlines. In Champlin, police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide involving an infant. In Otter Tail County, a 3-year-old boy was killed in a dog attack. It’s been a dark 24 hours.
What You Can Actually Do Now
The situation is moving fast. If you live in the Twin Cities or the surrounding areas, things are likely to stay tense for the foreseeable future. Here is how to navigate the current landscape:
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- Know Your Rights: If you are approached by federal agents, you have the right to remain silent and the right to see a warrant before they enter a private space. Local leaders have emphasized that agents have been entering businesses without warrants—don't let them.
- Stay Informed on School Status: Many schools in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis have gone into lockdown or moved to remote learning due to the proximity of raids. Check your district's portal before heading out.
- Monitor the Lawsuit: The request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) could be decided any hour now. If the judge grants it, the federal surge must stop immediately.
- Report Incidents: The Hennepin County Attorney has opened an evidence portal for any videos or testimony regarding the Renee Good shooting or federal misconduct. If you saw something, document it.
The "federal invasion" isn't over yet, but the pushback from Minnesota's leadership is reaching a fever pitch. Whether you’re following the sports scores (the Wild lost to New Jersey 5-2, by the way) or the political firestorm, it's clear that Minnesota is the center of the national conversation right now. Keep your eyes on the federal court rulings over the next 48 hours; that's where this will be won or lost.
Next Steps: You should monitor the Minnesota Attorney General’s official site for updates on the restraining order. If the court sides with Ellison, the 2,000+ agents currently in the Twin Cities may be forced to withdraw by the end of the week.