Aaron Rosenthal
@aaronrosenthal.bsky.social
Research Director at North Star Policy Action. Author of The State You See. Lover of MN sports = often sad. Views own.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Our own @aaronsojourner.org and @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social of North Star Policy Action have published an analysis on the economic impacts of Operation Metro Surge.
New analysis w/ @aaronsojourner.org finds consumer spending declined by 2.9% in MN in Jan 2026 due to Operation Metro Surge, resulting in a loss of $626 million. Bigger losses in food and accommodation spending (3.8% in MN, 4.1% in Hennepin County).
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
The Economic Impact of Operation Metro Surge in January 2026: A Synthetic Difference-in-Differences Analysis | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
February 19, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Our own @aaronsojourner.org and @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social of North Star Policy Action have published an analysis on the economic impacts of Operation Metro Surge.
New analysis w/ @aaronsojourner.org finds consumer spending declined by 2.9% in MN in Jan 2026 due to Operation Metro Surge, resulting in a loss of $626 million. Bigger losses in food and accommodation spending (3.8% in MN, 4.1% in Hennepin County).
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
The Economic Impact of Operation Metro Surge in January 2026: A Synthetic Difference-in-Differences Analysis | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
February 19, 2026 at 4:23 PM
New analysis w/ @aaronsojourner.org finds consumer spending declined by 2.9% in MN in Jan 2026 due to Operation Metro Surge, resulting in a loss of $626 million. Bigger losses in food and accommodation spending (3.8% in MN, 4.1% in Hennepin County).
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
northstarpolicy.org/impact-metro...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Twin Cities' (Hennepin+Ramsey) counties filings for evictions up 40% in Jan 2026 over 2023-24 baseline @evictionlab.bsky.social.
In raw counts, +9% to 1,330 in Jan 2026 from 1,220 in prior month.
In baseline years (2023 & 2024), filings lower in Jans than Decs.
evictionlab.org/eviction-tra...
In raw counts, +9% to 1,330 in Jan 2026 from 1,220 in prior month.
In baseline years (2023 & 2024), filings lower in Jans than Decs.
evictionlab.org/eviction-tra...
February 13, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Twin Cities' (Hennepin+Ramsey) counties filings for evictions up 40% in Jan 2026 over 2023-24 baseline @evictionlab.bsky.social.
In raw counts, +9% to 1,330 in Jan 2026 from 1,220 in prior month.
In baseline years (2023 & 2024), filings lower in Jans than Decs.
evictionlab.org/eviction-tra...
In raw counts, +9% to 1,330 in Jan 2026 from 1,220 in prior month.
In baseline years (2023 & 2024), filings lower in Jans than Decs.
evictionlab.org/eviction-tra...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Operation Metro Surge may be ending but the long-term human and economic impacts are still unfolding. Federal officials have announced that immigration enforcement in Minnesota will draw down, but ICE activity remains in the state and it’s not yet clear how conditions on the ground are changing.
February 12, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Operation Metro Surge may be ending but the long-term human and economic impacts are still unfolding. Federal officials have announced that immigration enforcement in Minnesota will draw down, but ICE activity remains in the state and it’s not yet clear how conditions on the ground are changing.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
THEY ARE FILMING EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING
THEY ARE PROUD OF IT
THEY ARE POSTING IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA
THEY ARE PROUD OF IT
THEY ARE POSTING IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 3, 2026 at 10:05 PM
THEY ARE FILMING EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING
THEY ARE PROUD OF IT
THEY ARE POSTING IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA
THEY ARE PROUD OF IT
THEY ARE POSTING IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
You love to see it
Tina Smith endorses Peggy Flanagan over Angie Craig in Minnesota Senate race
The retiring senator is choosing a fellow progressive and lieutenant governor as her successor over moderate Rep. Angie Craig.
www.politico.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:17 PM
You love to see it
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Absolutely surreal to continue to hear about drawdowns and lowered temperatures and things calming down in Minneapolis when, as far as I can tell, literally nothing has changed on the ground
January 31, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Absolutely surreal to continue to hear about drawdowns and lowered temperatures and things calming down in Minneapolis when, as far as I can tell, literally nothing has changed on the ground
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Tighten rules on warrants? Body cameras? HOW ABOUT A SIGNED JUDICIAL WARRANT FOR EVERYTHING! HOW ABOUT THEY LEAVE MINNESOTA AND NEVER CARRY OUT ANYTHING AKIN TO MINNESOTA IN ANY OTHER STATE. I DON'T WANT BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE ATROCITIES I WANT THEM TO STOP. I AM SO FUCKING FURIOUS!!!!
January 28, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Tighten rules on warrants? Body cameras? HOW ABOUT A SIGNED JUDICIAL WARRANT FOR EVERYTHING! HOW ABOUT THEY LEAVE MINNESOTA AND NEVER CARRY OUT ANYTHING AKIN TO MINNESOTA IN ANY OTHER STATE. I DON'T WANT BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE ATROCITIES I WANT THEM TO STOP. I AM SO FUCKING FURIOUS!!!!
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
This is Minneapolis.
Collective trauma, and neighbors helping neighbors.
This is our 24/7 every day lives right now, not just a 10 second news clip.
Collective trauma, and neighbors helping neighbors.
This is our 24/7 every day lives right now, not just a 10 second news clip.
January 28, 2026 at 3:15 PM
This is Minneapolis.
Collective trauma, and neighbors helping neighbors.
This is our 24/7 every day lives right now, not just a 10 second news clip.
Collective trauma, and neighbors helping neighbors.
This is our 24/7 every day lives right now, not just a 10 second news clip.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
It was great talking to @ddayen.bsky.social for this article, which makes the great point that not only has MN's CEO response to the occupation been pathetic, these corporations all put their resources behind the bill that enabled it.
They got us into this mess, they can pay to get us out.
They got us into this mess, they can pay to get us out.
The weak "deesclation of tensions" letter from large Minnesota businesses elides how instrumental they were in the creation of Operation Metro Surge, through public support & active lobbying for the Big Beautiful Bill that allocated $170 billion for mass deportation.
Minnesota CEOs Cry Crocodile Tears Over ICE - The American Prospect
Executives who lobbied for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which enabled the immigration terror in their state, now want everyone to believe they are on the people’s side.
prospect.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:37 PM
It was great talking to @ddayen.bsky.social for this article, which makes the great point that not only has MN's CEO response to the occupation been pathetic, these corporations all put their resources behind the bill that enabled it.
They got us into this mess, they can pay to get us out.
They got us into this mess, they can pay to get us out.
A big thanks to @ddayen.bsky.social of the @prospect.org for taking the time to talk to @northstarpolicy.org about the damage being done to Minnesota workers and businesses by ICE, and the complicity of so many MN-based corporations in this campaign of terror.
Yes, one underreported part of this is the economic loss for cities as the result of federal occupation. Talked to some great folks at North Star Policy Action about that, who said, "It’s an economic and social dead zone. It’s worse than the pandemic." prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
January 28, 2026 at 3:45 PM
A big thanks to @ddayen.bsky.social of the @prospect.org for taking the time to talk to @northstarpolicy.org about the damage being done to Minnesota workers and businesses by ICE, and the complicity of so many MN-based corporations in this campaign of terror.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
please remember that no matter how many “ICE is losing in MN” articles you read today, there is still a very real, urgent, ongoing crisis in Minnesota.
people need food and they need rent money. that has not changed.
people need food and they need rent money. that has not changed.
January 28, 2026 at 2:55 PM
please remember that no matter how many “ICE is losing in MN” articles you read today, there is still a very real, urgent, ongoing crisis in Minnesota.
people need food and they need rent money. that has not changed.
people need food and they need rent money. that has not changed.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
I'm going to keep banging this drum
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
I'm going to keep banging this drum
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
We're gonna do a pathway to citizenship. Such a big, beautiful pathway.
If you came here, worked hard, didn't hurt people. Pay a fine, like Pres. Reagan said: $185. Then you're right with the law.
Red carpet path leads up to the WH East Wing.
Welcoming people from all over to the American dream.
If you came here, worked hard, didn't hurt people. Pay a fine, like Pres. Reagan said: $185. Then you're right with the law.
Red carpet path leads up to the WH East Wing.
Welcoming people from all over to the American dream.
January 27, 2026 at 2:36 PM
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
I'm going to keep banging this drum
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
I'm going to keep banging this drum
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
The terror and violence are bad enough on their own. But to think of all of the things we are not funding because of the money flowing to support that terror and violence...
Things we could do in MN with the $18 million a week it costs taxpayers to fund Operation Metro Surge:
- Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children
- Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan
- Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals
- Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children
- Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan
- Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals
January 27, 2026 at 6:44 PM
The terror and violence are bad enough on their own. But to think of all of the things we are not funding because of the money flowing to support that terror and violence...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Not sure who is making Greg Bovino’s travel arrangements out of Minnesota but heads up babies in laps don’t need to buy their own seat
January 26, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Not sure who is making Greg Bovino’s travel arrangements out of Minnesota but heads up babies in laps don’t need to buy their own seat
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Yesterday, full of beauty.
Today, another absolute horror
Feds killed a guy who worked as a nurse at local VA hospital
As after Good's killing, they're again engaged in a cover up
Setting 1000s of over-armed, over-armored, masked secret police loose makes us less safe & less free
#ICEOut
Today, another absolute horror
Feds killed a guy who worked as a nurse at local VA hospital
As after Good's killing, they're again engaged in a cover up
Setting 1000s of over-armed, over-armored, masked secret police loose makes us less safe & less free
#ICEOut
January 24, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Yesterday, full of beauty.
Today, another absolute horror
Feds killed a guy who worked as a nurse at local VA hospital
As after Good's killing, they're again engaged in a cover up
Setting 1000s of over-armed, over-armored, masked secret police loose makes us less safe & less free
#ICEOut
Today, another absolute horror
Feds killed a guy who worked as a nurse at local VA hospital
As after Good's killing, they're again engaged in a cover up
Setting 1000s of over-armed, over-armored, masked secret police loose makes us less safe & less free
#ICEOut
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Stand up wherever you are
iceoutforgood.org?fbclid=IwY2x...
iceoutforgood.org?fbclid=IwY2x...
ICE Out for Good
On January 23, people across the country are taking action in solidarity with Minnesota to demand ICE out of our communities. Join the day of action.
iceoutforgood.org
January 22, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Stand up wherever you are
iceoutforgood.org?fbclid=IwY2x...
iceoutforgood.org?fbclid=IwY2x...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
"I could hear screaming and crying from deeper in the facility. There was an intercom, but requests for water and bathroom breaks were ignored. So I pounded on the one-way mirror and asked agents passing by for assistance." www.startribune.com/opinion-i-sp...
Opinion | I spent 8 hours detained at Whipple for observing ICE
"In the seating area nearer me, a woman was wailing and shrieking," Brandon Sigüenza writes. "Her screams cut through me. Nearby, three government agents watched this scene unfold. They made small tal...
www.startribune.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:52 PM
"I could hear screaming and crying from deeper in the facility. There was an intercom, but requests for water and bathroom breaks were ignored. So I pounded on the one-way mirror and asked agents passing by for assistance." www.startribune.com/opinion-i-sp...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Chauntyll Allen’s arrest, along with Nekima Levy Armstrong’s, is a dangerous escalation in the federal assault on MN. It’s an attack on our Constitution and an attack on Black women leading in the Twin Cities. Our community & local government will continue to fight against this in every way we can.
Well the "so far" turned out to be prescient. Sources tell me that St. Paul School Board member Chauntyl Allen has also been arrested in connection with the church protest, making her the first elected official to be arrested in connection with the ongoing ICE activity.
Levy Armstrong is the highest profile political figure in Minneapolis to be arrested in connection with the ongoing ICE activity - so far. (2/2)
January 22, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Chauntyll Allen’s arrest, along with Nekima Levy Armstrong’s, is a dangerous escalation in the federal assault on MN. It’s an attack on our Constitution and an attack on Black women leading in the Twin Cities. Our community & local government will continue to fight against this in every way we can.
In addition to the horrendous human cost, the ICE occupation in Minnesota is also exacting a huge economic cost. At least $18 million in taxpayer expense EACH WEEK and untold millions in lost economic output for the state. ICE OUT.
New Report: The Cost of Operation “Metro Surge” finds that federal enforcement in Minnesota is costing taxpayers at least $18 million per week — a conservative estimate of personnel, lodging, detention, and police overtime costs. Read the full report: northstarpolicy.org/metro-surge-...
The Cost of Operation Metro Surge | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
January 22, 2026 at 6:29 PM
In addition to the horrendous human cost, the ICE occupation in Minnesota is also exacting a huge economic cost. At least $18 million in taxpayer expense EACH WEEK and untold millions in lost economic output for the state. ICE OUT.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
They are targeting children because they are trying incite violence. I have talked to many journalists today, and they all made the same observation: Border Patrol and ICE have been rolling around with maximum aggression, lingering for ages as crowds, gather, seemingly trying to cause a riot.
This picture making the rounds on reddit, Columbia Heights. I'm not OK.
January 21, 2026 at 11:39 PM
They are targeting children because they are trying incite violence. I have talked to many journalists today, and they all made the same observation: Border Patrol and ICE have been rolling around with maximum aggression, lingering for ages as crowds, gather, seemingly trying to cause a riot.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Cannot believe it's still somehow getting worse...
Minnesota: "School officials say the [5-year-old] child was used as bait. They say [ICE] agents made little Liam knock on the door to ask to be let in in order to see if anyone else was home."
January 22, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Cannot believe it's still somehow getting worse...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM
I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Arrived home after a month outside of Minnesota. First task: getting rid of the ice on the front walk. It felt like a fitting warm-up for the work ahead.
January 16, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Arrived home after a month outside of Minnesota. First task: getting rid of the ice on the front walk. It felt like a fitting warm-up for the work ahead.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
I was desperate for some organization, so I put together a list of places you can donate or buy things for to support folks in Minnesota.
If you have places for me to add, please DM me.
If you have places for me to add, please DM me.
Places to Donate to in Minnesota
Buy/Donate Materials: Help buy dashcams for legal observers Bethel Church Food Pantry TC Food Justice: Donate food Mutual Aid Funds: Lyndale School Mutual Aid Fund Rent Relief Fund for Southside Fami...
docs.google.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I was desperate for some organization, so I put together a list of places you can donate or buy things for to support folks in Minnesota.
If you have places for me to add, please DM me.
If you have places for me to add, please DM me.
