ICE surge leaves Twin Cities immigrants and small businesses in fear
The recent ICE Operation Metro Surge has cast a cloud of fear over Minnesota’s immigrant communities and small businesses, with customers staying home and firms suffering losses — Sabores De Mexico, an Iranian‑owned market and taquería in south Minneapolis, reports business is down about 55–60% and has closed its taquería because some staff, despite having legal papers, are too afraid to travel to work. The U.S.‑citizen owner, who also cannot reach relatives amid crackdowns in Iran, says the climate feels like "living in North Korea" and that he "cannot wait" for ICE to leave so the community can stop looking over their shoulders.
📌 Key Facts
- Sabores De Mexico, an Iranian-owned market and taquería in south Minneapolis, says business is down 55–60% in recent weeks as customers fear leaving home during ICE's Operation Metro Surge.
- The owner has closed the taquería side of the business because some staff are too afraid to come to work for fear of encountering ICE on their way to work.
- Some employees who stopped coming to work have legal immigration papers but still fear potential encounters with ICE while commuting.
- The owner, a U.S. citizen originally from Iran, says he cannot reach his brother and sister in Iran amid a current crackdown there and fears for their safety, linking local ICE actions with repression abroad.
- The owner compared the current climate for immigrants to "living in North Korea" and said he "cannot wait" for ICE to leave Minnesota so his community can stop looking over their shoulders.
📊 Relevant Data
During Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, ICE arrested Andriu Javier Padron-Chacare, a previously deported Venezuelan national and confirmed member of the Tren de Aragua gang, who was convicted of theft.
ICE Continues Arresting Worst of the Worst in Sanctuary Minneapolis Including Pedophiles, Gang Members, and Drug Traffickers — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Undocumented immigrants in the United States have a homicide conviction rate 14% below that of native-born Americans, based on data from 2012 to 2022 in Texas.
No, immigrants aren't more likely to commit crimes than US-born, despite Trump's border speech — USA Today
In 2020, immigrants in the United States were 60% less likely to be incarcerated than the U.S.-born population.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Undocumented immigrants in Minnesota contributed $222 million in state and local taxes in 2022.
Undocumented immigrants contribute $222 million in Minnesota taxes — Minnesota Budget Project
Immigrants in Minnesota have higher rates of labor force participation than the native-born population.
March 2021 The Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies Sabores De Mexico, an Iranian-owned market and taquería in south Minneapolis, reporting business down 55–60% in recent weeks due to customers’ fear of leaving home during Operation Metro Surge.
- Reports the owner has closed the taquería side of the business because some staff, despite having legal papers, are too afraid of encountering ICE on the way to work.
- Adds an Iran angle: the owner, a U.S. citizen originally from Iran, says he cannot reach his brother and sister in Iran amid the current crackdown there and fears for their safety, linking local ICE fear with repression abroad.
- Quotes the owner comparing the current climate to 'living in North Korea' and explicitly saying he 'cannot wait' for ICE to leave Minnesota so his community can stop looking over their shoulders.