Minneapolis’ updated Impact Assessment estimates that Operation Metro Surge (OMS) cost the City, residents and businesses nearly $700 million in lost economic activity – forcing businesses to close or cut hours, costing millions in lost wages and causing traumatized neighbors to stay home for weeks on end.
City investments in economic resilience
The updated numbers serve as a blueprint to guide the City’s investment of millions of dollars in relief and assistance for businesses and neighborhoods to help Minneapolis regain economic momentum, including:
- Refunding license fees for 1,200 businesses under the Small Business Resiliency Fund to the tune of $1.7 million. The City will also pay license fees for businesses that have yet to file for them.
- Helping to support events and activations in commercial areas, award cultural market grants and more.
- Providing $3.8 million in emergency rent assistance, with an additional $3 million donated by the Wilson Foundation.
"Throughout Operation Metro Surge, I saw two very different stories unfold in Minneapolis,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “One was a story of disruption, fear, and economic harm. The other was a story of neighbors looking out for one another, businesses refusing to give up, and communities coming together during an incredibly difficult time. This assessment documents both. As we move forward, our shared responsibility is not only to acknowledge what happened, but to also invest in the people and neighborhoods that carried the burden of it."
The "Updated Assessment and Recovery Needs Overview" which covers the timeframe of December 2025 through April 2026, shows that most ICE activity over that time period occurred in the Central and Whittier neighborhoods. Data analyzed by the City’s Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging department (REIB) reveals that throughout Minnesota, people from Ecuador accounted for more than 1,000 arrests, followed by Mexico with close to 900. Many residents and community members were afraid to leave their homes for fear of being targeted, harassed, detained or worse, which meant they didn’t send their children to school, go to work or seek medical attention during this time.
Key estimates show impact
A few key estimates – by sector – are below:
|
Sector |
Explanation |
June Assessment |
|
Livelihood |
Financial losses to workers and businesses |
$607 million · Businesses lost $445 million in revenue · Workers lost $152 million in wages |
|
Shelter |
Mostly rent assistance |
$63 million · Greater Twin Cities United Way 211 helpline reported Spanish-language calls were up 88% from baseline · HOME Line calls were up 117% in first quarter YOY |
|
Food Security |
Substantial increases in requests for assistance |
$9 million · Monthly grocery needs were $8.7 million |
|
Mental Health |
Increased need for mental health support |
$7 million · Mental health needs could affect 1 in 5 residents, including 16K kids, who could develop mental health conditions in the next decade · 29% of residents missed medical appointments during OMS |
|
Youth & Education |
Disruption to wellbeing, safety and education |
$2 million · Nearly 441K fewer meals served at MPS · Approx. 70% increase in student departures YOY |
In addition to the severe impact on the community, OMS strained City resources. Nearly $10 million has been spent on City staff payroll, police overtime and operational expenses.
“While we will never know the full scope of the Surge’s impact on our community, this report stands as an important record of what our community members endured and how they showed up for each other,” said Director Rachel Sayre, Minneapolis Emergency Management, whose team led the assessment project. “We are incredibly grateful to the City departments, outside partners and community networks that provided insight into the impact of Operation Metro Surge to help guide recovery efforts. We remain all in this together.”
To see other ways the City is helping its neighbors, visit the Minneapolis Forward page. It includes stories from our community and links to services.