Most Minnesotans say last winter’s immigration enforcement surge hurt the state’s economy
Nearly 1 in 10 Minnesota workers had hours cut, missed days, or lost a job, and over 1 in 5 shoppers changed where they go, a statewide survey finds.
By Craig Helmstetter
Nearly two-thirds of adult Minnesotans said Operation Metro Surge hurt the state’s economy, according to the Summer 2026 Minnesota Community Survey. The poll asked Minnesotans to assess the surge’s impact on the state’s economy and tourism, and on their own jobs and daily life.
Lumaris Research conducted the study with a representative sample of over 1,000 Minnesota adults from May 6 to June 16, 2026.
Widespread views of economic harm from the federal immigration enforcement surge may reflect the public’s broad opposition to the surge and the actions of federal agents in the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. However, these views also appear to be grounded in the surge’s impact on the daily lives of Minnesotans. Key findings from the survey include:
- 9% of working adults missed days of work, had their work hours reduced, or lost a job.
- 30% of those who responded said they had family, friends, or coworkers who had their jobs impacted in this way.
- 22% of shoppers said the operation changed where they shopped.
- 16% said they were more likely to shop online.
- 30% said they were more likely to visit immigrant-owned businesses.
- 40% said they were less likely to visit downtown Minneapolis because of Operation Metro Surge, while 10% said they were more likely to visit.
- 40% said they were more likely to “avoid certain parts of Minneapolis.”
- 17% said they considered leaving Minnesota because of the federal surge in immigration enforcement.
- 56% said they thought the surge hurt tourism to Minnesota, compared to 10% who said that it helped.
