Operation Metro Surge Impact Survey: Insights from Minnesota School Leaders
Supported by a grant from The Minneapolis Foundation, this study captures the firsthand experiences of school administrators navigating the effects of increased federal immigration activity. Examine the 2026 data to learn how local schools are managing shifts in student attendance, staff responsibilities, and the overall wellbeing of their learning communities.
About the report
Beginning December 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Metro Surge (OMS), a targeted federal immigration enforcement effort intended to detain and deport people living in Minnesota who are not authorized to live in the U.S. For the subsequent 3 months, over 4,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were ordered to Minnesota to carry out this effort. We know that not all Minnesota communities have been equally impacted by OMS, yet we also know that some communities have been impacted greatly.
Having identified a need for more and better data on the impact of OMS on schools from all corners of the state, The Minneapolis Foundation contracted with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota to administer a brief, anonymous survey of school leaders about the impact of OMS on Minnesota public schools.
The purpose of the OMS Impact Survey is to understand the impact of OMS on Minnesota public schools and their students from the perspectives of school leaders, and how impact varies across levels (elementary vs secondary) and geographic regions.
