As the federal immigration enforce­ment operation known as Oper­ation Metro Surge nears its con­clusion, April Graves, mayor of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, is emerging as a prominent voice for local governments navigat­ing the aftermath of the contro­versial 10-week surge. Graves, who was elected mayor in 2022 after serving eight years on the city council and became Brook­lyn Center’s first Black woman to hold the office, has helped shape her city’s response to the disruptions brought on by the federal deployment.

Operation Metro Surge, launched by the U.S. De­partment of Homeland Security in early December 2025, de­ployed thousands of Immigra­tion and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection personnel across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area and beyond. The federal government described the ef­fort as the largest immigration enforcement operation in recent history, but the campaign drew sharp criticism from local of­ficials, advocacy groups, and residents amid arrests of thou­sands of people, reports of de­tention of U.S. citizens, and two fatal shootings linked to federal agents.

In a joint statement released on February 12, 2026, by the Cities for Safe and Stable Communities coalition, local leaders including Graves wel­comed the announcement by­Trump appointee Tom Homan that the surge would end in the coming weeks. The coalition described the withdrawal or re­deployment of federal officers as a much-needed de-escalation that communities had urgently requested.

For Graves and oth­er coalition members, the fo­cus now turns to recovery. The statement noted that the surge imposed “tangible financial and social costs” on cities, includ­ing budget strain, disruptions to schools, forced business closures, and widespread eco­nomic uncertainty. Coalition leaders said they will prioritize economic recovery, rebuilding public confidence, and restoring trust between residents and gov­ernment institutions.

In her quoted re­marks, Graves emphasized that residents “deserve to feel safe not only in their homes, but in their daily lives — at school, at work, and in their neighbor­hoods,” and acknowledged that the past weeks had caused “real disruption for many families.” She framed collaborative, coor­dinated public safety grounded in respect for all community members as essential to moving forward.

The coalition’s state­ment also emphasized that ef­fective public safety depends on trust between residents and local institutions, and called for federal agencies to uphold con­stitutional rights and due-pro­cess standards as local law en­forcement continues to address challenges left in the surge’s wake.

Graves’s role in the coalition reflects her broader leadership priorities in Brook­lyn Center, where she has advocated for community en­gagement and inclusive policy forming. Since taking office in January 2023, she has worked on strengthening city gover­nance, supporting equity ini­tiatives, and promoting public safety reforms.

As coalition cities as­sess the full impact of the surge, they are preparing to advocate for policy changes, relief fund­ing, and mechanisms aimed at helping local jurisdictions re­cover. The coalition has extend­ed an invitation to other affected cities across the region to join in a unified effort to ensure that recovery respects local auton­omy and restores stability for families, workers, and business owners alike.