News & Updates
The Economic Impact of Operation Metro Surge in January 2026: A Synthetic Difference-in-Differences Analysis
By, Aaron Rosenthal, Research Director, North Star Policy Action and Aaron Sojourner, Senior Economist and Deputy Director of Research, W.E. Upjohn Institute Since the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Metro Surge, many business owners,...
The Cost of Operation Metro Surge
Introduction For the last six weeks, Minnesota has been the target of Operation Metro Surge. Conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the human cost of this operation has been tremendous. This cost has been epitomized by violence against numerous...
FACT SHEET: ICE Enforcement is Disrupting Minnesota’s Economy
Local reporting shows economic harm statewide — while business leaders, corporations, and Republican lawmakers remain silent. ICE Enforcement Is Disrupting Minnesota’s Economy Minnesota is experiencing an unprecedented federal...
Facts: Here’s What We Know About ICE in Minnesota
In the days before Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE agent in South Minneapolis, Minnesota Republican leaders and Donald Trump amplified false claims about Minnesotans that were used to justify a dangerous federal enforcement surge, deploying thousands of ICE...
A More Complete Picture: What the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Misses in Its Business Benchmarks Report
The Minnesota Chamber Foundation recently released its 2026 Business Benchmarks report, offering a snapshot of how Minnesota’s economy is performing. In many places, we agree with their assessment. Minnesota’s economy is at a crossroads, and it’s essential that...
Expanding Possibilities: The Role of Nuclear Energy in Minnesota’s Carbon-Free Future
Expanding Possibilities by Aaron Rosenthal
A Roadmap to Compliance
The State of Working Minnesota 2025
2025 State of Working Minnesota by Aaron Rosenthal
No Exemptions for Exploitation: Protecting the People who Build Saint Paul
As Saint Paul considers exempting new multi-family housing from its rent control ordinance to encourage development, it has an opportunity—and a moral imperative—to ensure exploitation does not continue to occur to its residents and workers. To seize this opportunity, the most effective tool at the city’s disposal is requiring a prevailing wage on larger, new multi-family housing projects that are exempt from rent control.
Medical Assistance or Millionaire Tax Cuts: Minnesota Has a Choice
The Trump Administration is pulling a reverse Robin Hood: stealing health care from the poor to give tax cuts to the rich. How should Minnesota respond?
Stay Connected
Get the latest policy updates and action alerts from North Star. Questions? Contact us or email staff@northstarpolicy.org.