Minnesota AG Accuses ICE Surge of Wiping Out $610M in Twin Cities Revenue

Minnesota’s lawsuit against the federal government just got more expensive on paper. The state now says Operation Metro Surge did not only trigger legal and political fallout in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but also wiped out roughly $610 million in business revenue and nearly $244 million in wages.

According to the amended complaint filed by Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis businesses alone lost about $444.9 million, while St. Paul businesses lost about $165.4 million. The filing says those are lower-bound estimates based on survey work attached as exhibits, and it adds that more than half of businesses in both cities reported negative impacts tied to fear, missed work, weaker customer traffic, and staffing problems.

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Why does this matter beyond Minnesota? Other cities have reported similar economic shock after crackdowns. Reuters and AP reported an Omaha meat plant was left with about 30% of its staff after a 2025 raid, while a Los Angeles County-commissioned report said enforcement actions there disrupted labor supply and spending across immigrant communities. A recent SSRN paper likewise found ICE actions from 2009 to 2024 cut employment and raised public-finance stress in affected counties.

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