>>Border Patrol Commander Bovino, Agents Expected to Depart Minnesota Today
(Minneapolis, MN) — Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and several of his agents are expected to leave Minnesota today, according to multiple federal sources. The development comes just days after 37‑year‑old Alex Pretti of Minneapolis was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration operation in South Minneapolis near Glam Doll Donuts. It was the third federal agent‑involved shooting since Operation Metro Surge began on December 1st. The departures also follow what Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described as “productive conversations” with President Donald Trump on Monday, as well as scheduled meetings today with Border Czar Tom Homan. More than 3,000 federal agents are currently deployed in Minnesota.
>>Minneapolis Mayor Frey Says Pres. Trump Agrees Operation Metro Surge Cannot Continue
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says he’s meeting today with Border Czar Tom Homan to discuss next steps after speaking with President Donald Trump on Monday. Frey says he highlighted how much Minneapolis benefits from its immigrant communities, and reiterated that his central request is for Operation Metro Surge to end. According to Frey, the President agreed that the current situation “cannot continue.”
The mayor says some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and he plans to continue pushing for the rest of the operation’s personnel to depart. Frey says the city will keep working with state and federal law enforcement on legitimate criminal investigations — but will not participate in what he called “unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors.” He added that violent offenders should be held accountable for their actions, not their country of origin.
>>State’s Medicaid Payment Error Rate Below National Average
(St. Paul, MN) — New federal data shows Minnesota’s Medicaid payment error rate is well below the national average. Minnesota sits at 2.1 percent, compared to the federal rate of 6.1 percent. State Medicaid Director John Connolly says the numbers show progress. “Even though a lot of what we’ve been focused on is more squarely looking at fraud, fighting fraud, and preventing fraud, this is a broader measure of payment accuracy than fraud. Connolly says the review covered claims from late 2023 through the first half of 2024. He notes the Department of Human Services rolled out new anti‑fraud measures last fall, which he expects will continue to improve accuracy.
>>Farmer Mediation Claims Rising
(St. Paul, MN) — Mediation claims between Minnesota farmers and their lenders are four times higher than usual, according to DFL Agriculture Committee Chair Arik Putnam. Mediation is often a farmer’s last stop before bankruptcy, and Putnam says lawmakers can’t ignore the trend. “We need to reauthorize the resources that go to the state programs that help farmers in those processes. It’s an unfortunate priority, but it’s something we have to do because of the state of agriculture in Minnesota, and the pressures being put on it by the federal government.” Putnam says a combination of tariffs and falling commodity prices has pushed many Minnesota farmers to the financial brink.
>>Brainerd ICE Concerns
(Brainerd, MN) — The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is getting questions about its involvement in ICE activity in the area. “Sheriff Eric Klang said in a statement that deputies assisted a Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) team in executing two federal warrants on Monday in Brainerd. Four people were arrested without incident. He says his office doesn’t have information about where or when Homeland Security may be conducting operations elsewhere in the county. Klang adds that they remain committed to transparency and to serving the safety needs of the community.”
>>Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Remain at Record Lows in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s workplace injury rate held steady in 2024, remaining at a historic low. New data from the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses shows the state recorded 2.9 nonfatal OSHA‑recordable cases per 100 full‑time workers, unchanged from 2023 and still the lowest level since tracking began in 1973. The survey estimates 66,000 workers experienced injuries or illnesses last year. Injuries accounted for 95 percent of all cases. Reported workplace illnesses dropped sharply—from 5,200 cases in 2023 to 3,400 in 2024. State labor officials say continued attention to workplace safety practices has helped keep injury and illness rates at record lows.
>>Congresswoman Omar Hosts Town Hall on ICE Operations
(Washington, D.C.) — Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is holding a town hall meeting in North Minneapolis tonight to discuss ICE operations in Minnesota. A spokesperson for Omar says the event will focus on efforts at the local, state, and federal levels to hold ICE accountable for what they describe as the unlawful terrorization of Minnesota communities. State and county lawmakers, along with members of the Minneapolis City Council, are scheduled to join the Congresswoman for the discussion. The spokesperson tells MNN the event is sold out, but it will be livestreamed on Omar’s social media for anyone who wants to watch. The town hall begins at 6 p.m.
