ICE in Minnesota: Gov. Walz addresses small business challenges amid federal surge

Gov. Walz talks ICE operations, impacts on small businesses [FULL]

Gov. Tim Walz held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the impact that the federal immigration enforcement has had on small businesses in the state. Walz said following recent conversations with federal officials, he expects the operation could end in the coming days. 

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Gov. Tim Walz will spoke on the impacts that the federal surge is having on small businesses across Minnesota.

ICE surge impacts on small businesses

The backstory:

Gov. Walz, along with key figures like Matt Varilek from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and other business owners, discussed the impact of federal actions on local businesses. 

The federal surge has led to reduced foot traffic, staffing issues, and revenue loss for many businesses across the state. While some areas, like those near Alex Pretti's memorial, see increased activity, other regions face significant challenges.

During the press conference on Tuesday, Walz said federal immigration enforcement actions have caused widespread disruption across Minnesota, with effects felt in schools, health care, child care and the state’s food and hospitality industry.

During a Tuesday press conference, Walz said he has recently spoken with federal officials, including White House Border Czar Tom Homan and the president’s chief of staff, and expects the surge of federal agents in the state to end soon.

"But it’s my expectation… that we are talking days, not weeks and months of this occupation," Walz said. "And it’s an expectation that we will continue to get cooperation on joint investigations of the crimes that were committed or potentially committed against Minnesotans."

Gov. Walz expects ICE surge to possibly end in coming days

Gov. Tim Walz said during a press conference that federal immigration enforcement actions have had a significant impact on small businesses and that, following recent conversations with federal officials, he expects the operation could begin winding down in the coming days.

Walz said the state is working with partners and may put together a relief package focused on helping businesses. He described the situation as "an entirely man-made and avoidable catastrophe" and said assistance may be needed to help businesses recover.

"These are resilient folks. These are entrepreneurs. They know how to make things work," Walz said. "But what has been brought upon them without a little bit of help is gonna be very difficult."

In a recent court filing, Attorney General Keith Ellison highlighted the economic harm caused by the federal immigration surge. "The culture of fear created by DHS actions have caused immigrant workers to stay home, which risks damaging sectors of Minnesota’s economy that disproportionately depend on immigrant workers, in addition to Minnesota’s economy at large," said Ellison.

Ellison noted that businesses along Lake Street in Minneapolis reported an 80–90% drop in sales, while some in St. Paul experienced a 60–70% decline. Those impacts contrast with conditions in parts of south Minneapolis near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, protests blocked off streets and police temporarily shut down access to the area.

More than two weeks later, restaurants and retailers near the memorial to Pretti are seeing an increase in foot traffic as people continue to stop by the site. Still, some small businesses that voluntarily closed in solidarity with the general strike are expected to feel the financial impact on their bottom line.