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Human Rights Watch Condemns Federal Government in Operation Metro Surge Report
The report says nearly 4,000 people were detained and at least three were killed, and it calls for investigations and accountability.
On Thursday, the international watchdog Human Rights Watch released a 180-page report detailing widespread human rights violations during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, a federal ICE deployment lasting from December 2025 through March 2026.
President Donald Trump launched the deployment to "keep Americans safe and ERADICATE fraud," yet the report alleges the operation caused a "human rights crisis" through racial profiling, unlawful detention, and excessive force against Minnesota residents.
ICE detained approximately 4,000 immigrants, with over 75% having no criminal history. Federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis: ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed Renée Good, 37, on January 7, and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez and Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa killed nurse Alex Pretti, 37, on January 24.
The surge caused nearly $700 million in community economic losses from property damage and lost wages. The Department of Homeland Security defended the operation, alleging "the media manipulates data" and calling accusations of racial profiling "disgusting, reckless, and categorically FALSE."
HRW urges lawmakers to conduct "robust oversight" of detention facilities and end deportation quotas. Meanwhile, Trump's border czar Tom Homan recently threatened similar raids in New York City, saying he would send "more agents than you've ever seen before.