Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, filed an amended federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on April 21, incorporating new survey data about the effects of Operation Metro Surge. The updated complaint alleges that the surge of DHS agents into Minnesota caused significant harm to residents, businesses, and communities in both cities.
The issue is important because it highlights claims that federal enforcement actions resulted in substantial economic losses and had lasting impacts on public trust and community well-being. The plaintiffs are seeking a court declaration that Operation Metro Surge was unconstitutional and unlawful to prevent similar operations in the future.
According to survey data included in the amended complaint, experts estimate that more than $240 million in wages were lost by residents of Minneapolis and Saint Paul during Operation Metro Surge. Businesses in both cities reportedly lost over $600 million in revenue during this period. Researchers from the University of California San Diego conducted surveys showing extreme racial bias in DHS enforcement actions as well as a decline in public trust toward law enforcement among those who interacted with federal agents.
Ellison said, “During the unlawful Operation Metro Surge, DHS agents took the lives of two Minnesotans and caused severe harm to countless more residents of our state, to cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and to the state of Minnesota itself.” He added that ongoing data collection strengthens their case against DHS: “We are fighting to have Operation Metro Surge declared unlawful to protect Minnesota from ever having to endure another violent, painful, and destructive federal occupation again.”
Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her said, “Operation Metro Surge dealt a serious blow to Saint Paul’s economy… Many businesses, especially in communities of color, are still grappling with the lasting impacts of the Trump administration’s actions. No community should have to endure what ours has faced. This new information brings sharper clarity to the scale of damage.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also commented: “Operation Metro Surge should never have happened… It wasn’t public safety—it was chaos. Neighbors felt it, small businesses paid the price… We’re challenging this operation in court.”
The lawsuit seeks not only a declaration regarding past harms but also aims for protections against further alleged unlawful policies by DHS—such as masked agent deployments or roving patrols—which plaintiffs say contributed to racial profiling and decreased community safety.
