Dec 2025 – The Trump administration launches Operation Metro Surge, deploying roughly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol officers to the Twin Cities in the largest domestic immigration enforcement effort to date, targeting alleged Somali‑community welfare fraud and marking a sharp escalation of the administration’s immigration agenda[12][11].

July 2025 – An ICE raid in Camarillo, California results in the death of farmworker Jaime Alanis, who falls while fleeing agents, adding to a string of fatal enforcement incidents that fuel national criticism of ICE tactics[12].

Aug 2025 – A Home Depot raid near Monrovia, California kills Guatemalan day laborer Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez after he is struck by a vehicle while escaping, further intensifying scrutiny of ICE operations[12].

Sept 2025 – ICE officer shoots Silverio Villegas González during a traffic stop in Franklin Park, Illinois, continuing a pattern of lethal encounters that shape public perception of the agency[12].

2020 – The murder of George Floyd triggers massive unrest in Minneapolis, leaving the police department understaffed and reliant on overtime; this legacy shapes the city’s capacity to respond to the 2026 ICE surge[5].

Jan 7, 2026 – ICE agent shoots and kills U.S. citizen Renee Good in her Minneapolis SUV; DHS later describes the incident as an “attempted vehicle attack,” igniting nationwide protests demanding an end to the federal presence[8][1].

Jan 8, 2026 – DHS Secretary Kristi Noem travels to Minneapolis and labels Good’s killing “domestic terrorism,” while Governor Tim Walz issues a warning order to ready the Minnesota National Guard, noting 7,500 troops are training statewide[8][8].

Jan 11, 2026 – Noem announces on Fox News that “hundreds more” ICE and Border Patrol officers will arrive in Minnesota over the next days to protect agents, framing the deployment as a safety measure amid rising tensions[17].

Jan 12, 2026 – Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul file a federal lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against Operation Metro Surge, arguing the deployment violates the 10th Amendment and constitutes a “federal invasion” of state authority[22][20][7].

Jan 13, 2026 – President Trump posts on Truth Social warning Minnesota of a “Day of Reckoning and Retribution,” asserting that “patriots” of ICE must remove “thousands of already convicted murderers, drug dealers and addicts” from the state[16][2].

Jan 14, 2026 – U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez declines to issue a preliminary injunction against the ICE raids, stating she needs more evidence before ruling on the state’s constitutional claims[15].

Jan 16, 2026 – Minnesota’s lawsuit ties the current ICE surge to the lingering effects of the 2020 unrest, noting the police department remains short‑staffed at about 600 officers and relies heavily on overtime, which the federal operation further strains[5].

Jan 17, 2026 – Judge Katherine Menendez issues a preliminary injunction barring federal agents from using pepper spray, arresting, or detaining peaceful protesters and from stopping vehicles without reasonable suspicion, aiming to protect First‑Amendment rights amid ongoing clashes[14][19].

Jan 17, 2026 – The Justice Department opens a probe into Governor Walz and Mayor Frey for alleged obstruction of federal law enforcement, while a separate order limits federal retaliation against demonstrators[6][14].

Jan 24, 2026 – Governor Walz announces a state‑led investigation into the Saturday shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, declaring “the federal government cannot be trusted to lead” and urging the state justice system to have the final say[21][24].

Jan 24‑26, 2026 – Reuters‑Ipsos and Ipsos KnowledgePanel polls show 58 % of Americans say ICE has gone too far and 46 % support abolishing the agency, reflecting a sharp decline in public approval after the Good and Pretti killings[12].

Jan 27, 2026 – President Trump orders a partial pullback of the Minnesota operation, removing Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino from on‑ground command and appointing “border czar” Tom Homan to oversee ICE policy, while a federal judge schedules ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons for a hearing on compliance violations[13][13].

Jan 28, 2026 – ICE reports more than 3,400 arrests in the Twin Cities, and the administration reshuffles leadership, reassigning Bovino to California and elevating Homan, as congressional Democrats threaten to withhold $10 billion of ICE funding in the DHS appropriations bill[12][12].

Jan 29, 2026 – The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, led by CEOs of Target and Best Buy, issues a letter condemning the “tragic loss of life” and “widespread disruption” caused by Metro Surge, while downtown businesses report a 40‑45 % sales drop and owners fear permanent closures[11][11].

Jan 29, 2026 – Community volunteers mobilize rapid‑response networks using encrypted apps to track ICE convoys; after Alex Pretti’s killing, the agency announces over 3,400 arrests and the removal of Bovino, a move praised by local organizers[18][18].

Jan 30, 2026 – Thousands gather in downtown Minneapolis for a “Nationwide Shutdown” rally, urging participants to skip work, school, and shopping; border czar Tom Homan reiterates the operation will stay “until the problem is gone” despite recent fatalities[23].

Jan 31, 2026 – U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denies Minnesota’s request for a temporary restraining order, allowing roughly 3,000 ICE agents to remain deployed and noting the plaintiffs have not met the burden for a preliminary injunction[10][1].

Feb 1, 2026 – A nationwide strike expands as protesters march coast‑to‑coast; Judge Menendez’s earlier denial enables Operation Metro Surge to continue, while President Trump instructs DHS Secretary Noem not to intervene in Democratic‑led protests “under no circumstances”[4][1].

Feb 1, 2026 – DHS agents detain a Minnesota woman at gunpoint during an immigration pursuit, dragging her from her SUV and leaving injuries; the incident marks the first time a local police department is linked to federal immigration enforcement since the surge began[9].

Feb 2, 2026 – ICE presence persists in Minneapolis as residents report no reduction in arrests; White House border czar Tom Homan promises a future drawdown while President Trump rejects any pullback, and courts continue to allow the operation while lawsuits seek evidence preservation[3][3].