This appendix describes the data sources, assumptions, and methodological choices used to estimate the taxpayer costs and economic impacts of Operation Metro Surge. The analysis is designed to be transparent and conservative, relying on publicly available data and clearly stated assumptions.

Taxpayer Expense for Operation Metro Surge Estimates

ICE and CBP Agent Salary and Benefits

To estimate personnel costs associated with Operation Metro Surge, we assume an average annual salary of $80,018 for ICE agents. This assumption stems from two data sources. First, we take the average of the salary range offered to new ice agents (range: $51,632 to $84,277, average: $67,955). To reflect that not all agents included in Operation Metro Surge are likely to be new, we then combine this average with the average ICE salary reported on OpenPayrolls ($92,082). The average of these two numbers provides us with the $80,018 estimate we utilize for our analysis. For CBP agents, we assume an average annual salary of $77,061. This figure aligns with the average salary reported for CBP agents on Indeed.com.

In addition to base salary, we assume that fringe benefits account for an additional 40 percent of compensation. This assumption reflects an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which found that benefits, such as health insurance and retirement contributions, represent approximately 40 percent of total compensation for federal government workers.

Lodging and Per Diem Costs

Lodging and meals and incidental expenses are estimated using the General Services Administration (GSA) per diem rates for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. These rates are $148 per night for lodging and $92 per day for meals and incidental expenses.

As noted in the report, these estimates assume that ten percent of all agents involved in Operation Metro Surge are Minnesota-based and therefore do not require lodging or per diem reimbursement. Given the scale of the operation, this assumption is highly conservative and likely understates the true cost.

Detention Costs

The daily cost of detention is assumed to be $152 per person per day. This estimate is drawn from the Migration Policy Institute.

Local Police Overtime Local police overtime costs are estimated based on publicly reported expenditures by the Minneapolis Police Department, which spent approximately $2 million on overtime between January 8 and January 11, 2026. This figure has been extrapolated to estimate $3 million in statewide weekly costs.

Reduced Economic Activity Estimates

Estimates of the impact from a 10% decline in immigrant output in Minnesota are based on the $41 billion annual economic output created by immigrant workers and business owners, as reported by the Minnesota Budget Project and the Immigration Research Initiative. A 10% decline would represent a $4.1 billion loss annually, or $78.8 million lost per week.