Community impacts from Operation Metro Surge
Updated assessment shows nearly $700 million in impacts
Livelihoods and small businesses
The largest documented impact was economic.
- Businesses experienced an estimated $445 million in lost revenue.
- Workers experienced an estimated $153 million in wage loss.
- Hotels and hospitality saw about $4.7 million in lost hotel revenue and more than $700,000 in lost wages.
Housing stability
The assessment estimates $62.8 million in rental assistance need from December through March.
Minneapolis had about 35,000 low-income renter households that were already cost-burdened before Operation Metro Surge. Lost income pushed more households toward eviction and displacement.
Food security
The assessment estimates about 7,977 additional households may have become food insecure because of Operation Metro Surge.
This increased the total number of food-insecure households to about 32,003, which is 16.5% of all Minneapolis households.
The estimated monthly grocery need for newly food-insecure households is $8.7 million.
Mental health
With a total estimated impact of $7 million to mental health impacts:
- About 29% of residents missed medical appointments
- Nearly 40% avoided urgent care or hospitals
- More than 30% missed immunizations due to OMS concerns.
Community health centers operated at about 80% of expected visits, with medical visits down 25% and dental visits down 28%.
Youth and education
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) served more than 441,000 fewer meals and snacks from January through March compared with October 2025.
School-based clinics saw a 47% decline in medical visits, and school-based mental health visits fell 22% compared with the same period in 2025.
MPS also spent $253,000 on technology to support temporary online learning.
Overall impact
More than 4,000 federal agents were brought to Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge. In addition to the severe impact on the community, Operation Metro Surge strained City resources. Nearly $10 million has been spent on City staff payroll, police overtime and operational expenses.
Operation Metro Surge results in $203 million impact
76,000 residents need urgent relief
The City estimates that approximately 76,000 people — mostly immigrants, refugees, American Indian/Native American, and Black/African American and People of Color — currently need urgent assistance.
The assessment identifies four priority areas of urgent need.
Livelihoods
- $47 million in lost wages from residents unable to safely go to work
- $81 million in restaurant and small business revenue losses
- $4.7 million in hotel cancellation losses extending into summer
Shelter
- 35,000 low-income renter households were already struggling to afford rent before the surge
- $15.7 million in additional rent assistance now needed due to lost income
- Eviction impacts are still being assessed
Food security
- 76,200 people experiencing food insecurity linked to the surge
- $2.4 million per week needed to meet citywide food assistance demand
Mental health
- 8,713 school-age children in need of mental health services
- 50% reduction in client contact reported by service providers as families avoid public systems
Impact on City operations
In addition to community harm, Operation Metro Surge has strained City resources.
The City has spent more than $6 million on payroll, police overtime, and operational expenses. Officials estimate total costs could have doubled if the surge continued.
What’s next
The City is recovering and requesting significant funding assistance to address urgent humanitarian needs.
Minneapolis remains committed to
- Supporting impacted families and businesses
- Upholding its separation ordinance
- Maintaining transparency and community updates
- Advancing recovery efforts across priority sectors
