ICE Agents Stop Off-Duty Police in Twin Cities Clash

Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement stopped off-duty police officers in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota this month. The officers, who are people of color, say the agents demanded proof of U.S. citizenship while they were not on duty. Local police chiefs held a news conference Tuesday to raise concerns about these stops and a larger federal operation called Operation Metro Surge.

Background

Operation Metro Surge started in late December 2025. Thousands of agents from ICE and Customs and Border Protection moved into the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. The goal was immigration enforcement under Title 8 authority. But local leaders say the actions have gone too far.

In the past few weeks, agents have carried out raids and stops across the cities. Complaints poured in from residents about agents approaching people on streets, in cars, and near homes. Schools locked down. Businesses shut their doors. Police responded to scenes where agents left detained people's cars blocking roads.

One shooting added to the tension. On January 7, 2026, ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis. Protests followed, and ICE operations kept going. By Wednesday, agents increased their presence in south Minneapolis.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the state, Minneapolis, and St. Paul against the Department of Homeland Security. The suit asks a court to stop the operation and declare it unconstitutional. It claims violations of the First Amendment, Tenth Amendment, and equal sovereignty between state and federal governments. The cities say the agents' actions break the Administrative Procedure Act by being arbitrary.

Local police departments started tracking extra costs. Minneapolis police logged over 3,000 hours of overtime by January 9 from handling issues tied to the federal agents. The bill for just a few days ran into millions for taxpayers.

Key Details

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley spoke at Tuesday's press conference. He said several of his off-duty officers faced stops by federal agents in the last two weeks.

Officer Stopped on Roadway

Bruley described one case. An off-duty female officer drove down a road. ICE agents pulled up, boxed her car in, and demanded her paperwork. She had no papers because she is a U.S. citizen and off duty. When she pulled out her phone to record, an agent knocked it from her hand. She then showed her police badge, and the agents left.

"Every one of these individuals is a person of color," Bruley said. "I wish I could tell you that this was an isolated incident. In fact, many of the chiefs standing behind me have similar incidents with their off-duty officers."

Bruley said the chiefs support legal immigration work. But they see these tactics as targeting people based on looks, which hurts civil rights and trust in police.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt joined in.

"The trust is fragile right now, and it is an essential element to public safety," Witt said. "Today that trust is being damaged, broken by the questionable and sometimes unethical actions of some federal agents."

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry was there too. The group called for oversight of the 3,000 agents in the area. They questioned training and vetting among different federal teams like ICE and Border Patrol.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said they found no record of stopping a police officer. Without a name, they could not check the claim further. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said they would keep doing their legal mission.

Wider Impacts

Residents called 911 thinking some stops were kidnappings. Police had to sort those out. Businesses in Minneapolis saw sales drop 50 to 80 percent. Owners said customers stayed away out of fear. Federal grand juries issued subpoenas to offices of Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Ellison, and Mayor Jacob Frey.

Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez posted on social media Wednesday about more agents in south Minneapolis. He urged neighbors to make plans and have observers.

What This Means

The clashes strain relations between federal agents and local police. Chiefs say their officers spot when stops lack cause because they know the law well. This erodes years of work to build trust with communities, especially people of color.

Police spend time and money on fallout from federal actions. They respond to protests, blocked roads, and confused 911 calls. Overtime costs add up fast, pulling resources from other needs.

The lawsuit could change things. If a judge grants a temporary restraining order, agents might pull back. That would ease pressure on streets and let normal life resume. Vice President JD Vance plans a visit to Minneapolis Thursday for talks with leaders.

Protests continue against ICE. Operations go on too. Tensions run high two weeks after the shooting. Local leaders want accountability. Federal side says they follow the law. The coming days will show if courts step in or if talks help.

Communities watch closely. Trust in law enforcement matters for safety. When federal and local forces clash, everyone feels it. Schools stay alert. Businesses weigh reopening. People think twice before going out. This operation has changed daily life in the Twin Cities.