Overview
- After giving the required notice, the lawmakers arrived for a Feb. 20 inspection and said every cell was empty, with officials indicating detainees were moved about 30 minutes before their visit.
- Rep. Ilhan Omar said staff later claimed five people were still in custody but the members were not permitted to view them, deepening concerns about transparency.
- Department of Homeland Security officials told the delegation that Operation Metro Surge has concluded and that fewer than 500 ICE agents remain in Minnesota.
- According to data provided to the lawmakers, the operation is averaging about 20 arrests per day and roughly two deportation flights per week, with most detainees quickly transferred to county jails.
- The visit followed a federal court order to improve detainee access to counsel and ongoing litigation over the administration’s seven‑day notice rule for congressional inspections, which lawmakers argue violates their oversight rights.