On December 4, President Trump announced Operation Metro Surge, with the intent to send around 3,000 federal immigration agents to the Twin Cities metro area and beyond in Minnesota to enforce federal immigration law. Following this, the administration also began Operation PARRIS on January 9, 2026, with the stated goal of reevaluating the admission of refugee arrivals in Minnesota since 2021. Since then, the Asian Pacific Minnesotan community, among others, has been placed at the crosshairs of federal attention. This degree of targeting has spread unease through our community like lightning.

 

At the Council, we are listening, and we have heard countless stories of the impact of this initiative. For that reason, we have launched a federal action landing page on our website to provide news and information to concerned community members. Visit https://mn.gov/capm/federal-action to view this page. This resource is by no means exhaustive and will be updated as information becomes available or the situation changes. 

 

Once again we find ourselves living through unprecedented times, with our community and our state at ground zero of American history. Together as a community we will find a path forward through these confusing times. With the help and resourcefulness of others across our state and country, and in alignment with our statutory duties, we at the Council will continue to be a resource for affected individuals and will continue to connect the lived realities of Asian Pacific Minnesotans to government.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions, concerns, or resources you believe would be helpful for our communities.

 

With respect,

 

Sia Her

Executive Director, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans