State of Siege: The Definitive Fact-Check of “Operation Metro Surge”
Date: February 12, 2026
Topic: End of Operation Metro Surge / Minnesota ICE Deployment
Border Czar Tom Homan stood before the press today to declare “Operation Metro Surge” a success, claiming the Twin Cities are “much safer.” The documented reality—verified by federal lawsuits, medical examiners, and major news outlets—tel radically different story of constitutional violations and lethal force against U.S. citizens.
Below is the air-tight record of the lies, casualties, and terror tactics used during this operation.
Part I: The Deception (Claim vs. Fact)
THE CLAIM:
“The Twin Cities... are much safer... because of what we have accomplished.”
THE FACTS:
The operation has created a public safety crisis. The only documented gun deaths during this period were committed by federal agents.
Homicides: Federal agents are responsible for the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens—Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good—in less than 30 days.
Community Collapse: A general strike of 50,000+ residents and school closures define the “safety” Homan claims.
Citation: PBS NewsHour: A second U.S. citizen was killed by federal forces | Washington Post: Border Czar declares surge over following protests
THE CLAIM:
“We have greatly reduced the number of targets... targeting murderers, sex offenders, national security threats.”
THE FACTS:
Agents are running a “dragnet” that targets bystanders and citizens with no criminal records.
Collateral Arrests: Agents raided the home of U.S. citizen Scott Thao, holding him at gunpoint in his underwear.
Child Detention: Reports confirm the detention of a 5-year-old boy (Liam Conejo Ramos) and the separation of a toddler from her mother despite a court order.
Citation: CBS News: Elderly Hmong-American citizen arrested in St. Paul | House Judiciary: Democrats Demand End to Warrantless Raids
THE CLAIM:
“Agitators... forcibly assaulting... federal officers.”
THE FACTS:
Video evidence proves agents are the aggressors.
The Alex Pretti Killing: Homan claims self-defense, but bystander video verified by the BBC and Reuters shows Pretti was holding only a cell phone. He had been disarmed of his legal carry weapon before being shot in the back.
Citation: Wikipedia: Killing of Alex Pretti (Video Analysis) | OPB: 2 federal officers fired shots
THE CLAIM:
“ICE has not arrested anybody inside a hospital... inside a school... inside a church.”
THE FACTS:
Agents have violated sensitive locations repeatedly.
Hospitals & Schools: Agents entered Hennepin County Medical Center, shackling patients to beds, and intercepted student transport vans in St. Paul.
Citation: ACLU: Demand Immediate Action After ICE Shoots Minnesota Woman
THE CLAIM:
“Unprecedented level of coordination with law enforcement... We follow the law.”
THE FACTS:
The operation is legally rogue.
The Lawsuit: Minnesota AG Keith Ellison and local cities sued DHS to stop the operation.
96 Violations: Federal judges have documented 96 violations of court orders by ICE in January 2026 alone, including ignoring habeas corpus petitions.
Citation: Military.com: Twin Cities Move To Ban Masked ICE Agents
Part II: The Casualty List (Documented)
The Dead
Alex Jeffrey Pretti (37)
Status: U.S. Citizen, ICU Nurse.
Incident: Shot ~10 times by CBP agents Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez while filming them.
Fact: Disarmed, pepper-sprayed, and executed while holding a phone.
Link: PBS NewsHour Report
Renee Nicole Good (37)
Status: U.S. Citizen, Mother.
Incident: Shot in the head by ICE agent Jonathan Ross while in her car.
Fact: Forensic analysis proved her car was moving away from the agent when he fired.
The Injured & Tortured
Scott Thao (56)
Incident: Dragged from his home in underwear into -10°F weather during a warrantless raid.
Torture: Handcuffed in freezing cold for hours; released at a remote location without clothing (”Starlight Tour”).
The Jackson Infant
Injury: 6-month-old baby stopped breathing and foamed at the mouth.
Cause: Agents deployed flash-bangs and tear gas directly next to the family’s car in traffic.
Link: ACLU Press Release
Part III: Tactical Terror
Federal agents in Minnesota have deployed military-grade psychological warfare tactics against the civilian population.
1. “Starlight Tours” (Weaponized Cold)
The Tactic: Agents detain individuals—often without warm clothing—and drive them to remote locations or “wrong addresses” before releasing them into sub-zero winter conditions.
Verified Case: U.S. citizen Scott Thao was left in an industrial park in his underwear after agents realized they raided the wrong house.
Citation: Law Firm for Immigrants: Shocking Detai Thao Arrest
2. Human Shielding (”Baiting”)
The Tactic: Agents use children as physical shields and bait to breach homes they lack warrants to enter.
Verified Case: Agents positioned 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos in front of his door and forced him to cry out for his mother to open it.
3. Institutional Violations
Diplomatic Raid: Agents attempted to force entry into the Consulate of Ecuador in Minneapolis, violating the Vienna Convention.
Warrantless Entry Memo: Whistleblowers revealed a May 2025 memo authorizing agents to bypass judicial warrants.
Citation: House Judiciary Committee: Demand Rescission of Warrantless Raid Memo
Part IV: The Butchers Bill (Total Cost)
While Homan claims success, the financial data revea catastrophic drain on public funds and the local economy.
Economic Impact
Taxpayer Cost: $18 Million / Week (Salaries, lodging, per diems for 2,000+ agents).
Local Business Losses: $10–$20 Million / Week due to closures and fear.
Lake Street Corridor: $46 Million lost by immigrant-owned businesses in two months.
Police Overtime: $3 Million+ spent by Minneapolis PD responding to federal chaos.
Property Destruction
Raid Damage: Agents shattered the glass entrance of the East Franklin Avenue apartments (~$15,000).
Legal Liability: The state faces potential liability of hundreds of millions in wrongful death settlements for Pretti and Good.
Citation: LiveMint: Business Impact & Protests
... US citizen says ICE removed him from his home in his underwear without a warrant ...
This video features the direct testimony of Scott Thao, the U.S. citizen mentioned in the report who was subjected to a warrantless raid and “starlight tour” tactic.
