Minneapolis, MN — Following the removal of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL) warns that a change in personnel does not equal a change in policy. While the removal follows intense community-led pressure and growing national scrutiny, COPAL maintains that the aggressive immigration enforcement tactics of Operation Metro Surge continue to devastate communities in Minnesota who have yet to see justice or truth.
Operation Metro Surge brought horror to communities in Minnesota. Homes were raided. Families were separated. Individuals were threatened, harassed, and detained without due process. Families lived in constant fear as federal agents carried out these operations. And people died at the hands of ICE.
“The changes we are beginning to see did not happen by accident,” stated Francisco Segovia Executive Director of COPAL. “They happened because people chose bravery. Community members spoke up, documented abuse, and questioned the leadership responsible for the treatment of our communities. But a new name at the top does not fix a broken system”
These were not isolated incidents. They were systematic, cruel tactics that tore apart neighborhoods, destroyed livelihoods, and violated the basic rights guaranteed to everyone under the United States Constitution. And the impact is still being felt: trauma lingers, families are still struggling economically, and communities remain on edge.
And yet the fight is far from over. ICE remains active in Minnesota, families continue to face harassment and fear, and no real accountability has been delivered for the harm caused by this administration. Our communities continue to demand truth, justice, and policies that protect dignity, democracy, and human rights.
While the removal of Secretary Noem signals that the public is paying closer attention to these enforcement practices, COPAL demands accountability. Minnesotans are still owed a full investigation into the actions carried out by federal agents during Metro Surge.
This moment shows that when communities raise their voices, the country begins to listen, but listening is only the first step. COPAL’s work is not finished. Continued public attention and community vigilance are essential to ensuring that the rights and dignity of our communities are protected.
COPAL encourages community members to remain informed, continue documenting abuses, and report enforcement activity to ensure that the fight for accountability remains a priority and immigrant families across Minnesota are not forced to face these challenges alone.
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COPAL Minnesota is a member-based organization driven to improve the quality of life for Minnesota’s Latine communities. For more information, please visit www.copalmn.org.
