When Immigration Raids End, The Health Crisis Lingers

3,000 federal immigration agents have left Minneapolis. But what they've left behind isn't just empty offices—it's a community-wide health crisis that researchers say will take years to heal.

On February 12, the Trump administration announced it was ending Operation Metro Surge, its deployment of thousands of federal immigration enforcement agents across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding areas. While federal officials say some agents remain and promise similar sweeps in other U.S. cities, the immediate operation has concluded.

For public health researchers who've spent over a decade documenting immigration enforcement impacts, these aren't just policy operations—they're public health emergencies with ripple effects that extend far beyond the targeted communities.

Healthcare Access Plummets

The most immediate casualty? People's willingness to seek medical care. According to one family medicine doctor in the area, primary care visits dropped by more than 50% during the operation. Patients are delaying care for chronic conditions like diabetes, while pregnant women are skipping prenatal visits and requesting home births even when their health conditions typically require hospital delivery.

This pattern isn't unique to Minneapolis. Research consistently shows that Hispanic adults—even U.S. citizens—are less likely to get annual checkups or visit doctors when living in regions with intensive immigration enforcement. Medicaid enrollment also declines during federal immigration crackdowns, even among qualifying citizens.

The fear is rational: any interaction with government systems, including healthcare, could potentially lead to an immigration encounter. But the health consequences compound over time, turning treatable conditions into serious complications.

Economic Shockwaves Hit Health Resources

Immigration enforcement doesn't just affect those directly targeted—it reshapes entire local economies. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, thousands of immigrant families stayed home to avoid encounters with enforcement agents. The result? Immigrant-owned businesses reported drastically reduced foot traffic, with up to 80% temporarily closing in some neighborhoods during January 2026.

This economic disruption has direct health implications. Income and employment are major predictors of health outcomes, and research shows that counties beginning collaboration with federal immigration enforcement see overall employment and hourly wages fall as consumer spending drops.

The ripple effects extend to public health's most cost-effective programs. Enrollment in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants and Children nutrition program) typically drops when immigration enforcement intensifies, even among eligible participants. Housing stability—another foundation of public health—also suffers, with research showing increased eviction, missed rent payments, and foreclosure rates during immigration crackdowns.

Early reports from Minneapolis tenant advocacy organizations indicate an 82% increase in requests for help compared to early 2025.

Mental Health: The Deepest Wounds

Perhaps the most devastating and enduring impacts appear in mental health. Research shows that people who encounter immigration officials—whether directly or indirectly through neighborhood presence, knowing someone who was deported, or living in constant vigilance—face higher risks of psychological distress and poor overall health.

For children who witness family separations, the effects can be severe: separation anxiety and behavioral issues in the short term, with long-term risks of anxiety and depression. The trauma doesn't end when the operation concludes.

In Minnesota, many immigrant families aren't just experiencing isolation from staying home—they're avoiding spaces that previously provided community support. Church attendance has reportedly dropped by half in some congregations, and mosque attendance appears down as well. This social isolation removes crucial emotional resources precisely when people need them most.

Community Response: An Informal Disaster Relief Effort

Amid these challenges, everyday Minnesotans have launched what researchers recognize as an informal disaster response. Healthcare workers expand telehealth and home visits to reach patients afraid to leave home. Trusted neighbors provide rides to medical appointments. Hospital staff and unions pressure health systems to limit ICE access to patient areas.

Community members deliver food and necessities to those sheltering in place or who've lost income. Mutual aid campaigns raise funds for rent assistance, while organizers successfully pushed Minneapolis to expand rental assistance programs. More than 60 local organizations have petitioned the governor for a statewide eviction moratorium.

This mirrors what researchers observe in other communities experiencing immigration raids: ordinary people, with immigrant families at the forefront, essentially launching emergency response efforts, providing sanctuary and resources where official systems fall short.

The Long Road to Recovery

Public health research consistently shows that connected communities are healthy communities, and these social ties play critical roles in long-term recovery from public health crises. But immigration court cases drag on for months or years, as do the mental health impacts. Rebuilding trust with government institutions takes time.

The Minneapolis experience offers a preview of what's coming as ICE expands operations to other cities. While community response can mitigate some immediate impacts—particularly in places with strong mutual aid networks like Minneapolis—the fundamental health disruptions require sustained, coordinated efforts to address.