In late 2025 and early 2026, the United States saw one of the most controversial immigration enforcement campaigns in recent memory, driven by the Trump administration’s hardline policies and heavy use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. These efforts, centered in Minneapolis and other cities, triggered fierce public backlash, legal challenges, and multiple deadly encounters between federal agents and civilians.
The operation, known as “Operation Metro Surge,” began in December 2025. The U.S. government said it was targeting undocumented immigrants and alleged fraud, deporting thousands of people in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. But the surge quickly became a flashpoint of national controversy because of its aggressive tactics and the involvement of large numbers of ICE and Border Patrol officers operating in civilian neighborhoods.
On January 7, 2026, the situation took a tragic turn in Minneapolis when an ICE agent fatally shot a 37-year-old woman named Renée Good during an enforcement action. Federal officials later described her movement as dangerous and said the agent acted in self-defense. But videos and eyewitness accounts painted a different picture, showing Good driving slowly away in her SUV when she was shot multiple times. Critics — including Minnesota’s governor and local leaders — rejected the official narrative and said there was no clear threat that justified deadly force.
The killing of Good, who was a U.S. citizen and not reported to be involved in violence, sent shockwaves through the community. Protests erupted in Minneapolis and other cities, with demonstrators demanding accountability, the end of ICE operations, and justice for Good’s death. The incident also revived debates about civil liberties, federal authority, and law enforcement accountability.
Just weeks later, on January 24, another fatal shooting occurred in Minneapolis. Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, during a clash between immigration officers and protesters. The sequence of events was disputed: government officials claimed Pretti posed a danger, while many witnesses and local critics said he was trying to help someone and was not a threat when he was shot.
These two shootings — of Good and Pretti — became symbols for critics who saw the ICE deployment as an example of federal overreach and excessive use of force. Demonstrations and public anger continued both in Minnesota and in other parts of the U.S., with people organizing marches, rallies, and legal challenges against the Trump administration’s approach.
The controversy reached national political levels. Some federal lawmakers and officials defended the agents’ actions as lawful and necessary within immigration law enforcement. Others — including state and local leaders — called for ICE to leave the state entirely and demanded independent investigations into both deaths.
Legal developments soon followed. A lawsuit was filed by civil rights groups accusing the federal government of racial profiling, unlawful arrests, and violations of constitutional rights during the Minnesota enforcement operations. A federal judge also ruled that ICE had improperly restricted detainees’ access to lawyers during the surge, ordering the agency to allow legal counsel.
Amid the mounting backlash, the Trump administration began reducing its force in Minnesota. Border czar Tom Homan announced that the large-scale operation would be wound down, and that more than 1,000 agents had already departed the Twin Cities area. However, he said a smaller security force would remain temporarily to manage ongoing operations and protect federal personnel.
At the same time, some internal changes were made to how ICE would operate going forward. Officers were given directives to “avoid engaging” with protestors in certain situations and to focus on immigrants with criminal charges, rather than broad enforcement that could inflame tensions.
Still, the fallout from the shootings and protests extended beyond Minnesota. Public opinion on immigration enforcement, ICE practices, and the broader Trump administration strategy has become more intense and divided. Supporters of stricter enforcement argue the government must uphold immigration laws and protect public safety. Critics say the use of federal agents in domestic law enforcement — especially when it results in civilian deaths — raises serious concerns about civil liberties and the rights of individuals in their communities.
