ACLU-MN Takes Early Steps Toward Suing the U.S. Government for Harms Suffered During Federal Immigration Surges

SAINT PAUL – On February 26, 2026 the ACLU of Minnesota (ACLU-MN) began filing federal damages claims for Minnesotans who were harmed by federal immigration agents during Operations PARISS and Metro Surge.

These filings are an important step towards suing the U.S. government for those harms.

During the surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota, the Trump Administration increased its deployment of federal forces to our state with the stated goal of deterring crime and enforcing immigration laws. In reality, federal agents engaged in a series of indiscriminate detentions and arrests of both U.S. citizens and non-citizens. They have also physically and mentally harmed Minnesotans who were simply using their constitutional rights to observe and protest.

The claims against immigration agents reflect the full spectrum of trauma our community suffered during Operations PARRIS and Metro Surge. The claims include false arrest, unlawful detention, assault, excessive force, infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision among others. We have also seen and documented extensive violations of the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and federal enforcement standards.

The clients for whom claims have been filed include U.S. citizens, immigrants who were abused and detained after being racially profiled and targeted for enforcement, and observers who were abused while documenting I.C.E. activities. Profiles of those clients, and videos associated with their filings, are included with this release.

"The people for whom we are filing federal damages claims are people who came to us during Operations PARRIS and Metro Surge to share their stories and seek justice for the abuses visited on them by federal immigration agents,” said ACLU-MN Legal Director Teresa Nelson. “This administrative claims process is an important first step.”

“We are filing notices under the FTCA because we believe that the federal government must be held accountable for the agents it sends into our streets,” said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Ian Bratlie. “When federal immigration agents – as part of their duties – abuse, abduct, and detain our neighbors without regard for their safety or well-being, there must be a legal remedy for people who are harmed. The FTCA, while not a perfect remedy, allows our clients to seek damages for the losses and trauma they endured.”