‘Kids literally disappeared’: Minnesota schools lost at least 1,700 students following Operation Metro Surge

A Sahan Journal data analysis shows student enrollment declined in Minnesota school districts with the highest percentage of English learners after the federal immigration operation. For some, the loss will have long-term impacts. The post ‘Kids literally disappeared’: Minnesota schools lost at least 1,700 students following Operation Metro Surge a

By: Becky Z. Dernbach and Cynthia Tu

Outlets: Sahan Journal

Published: August 31, 2026

Words: 2,112

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 1 day ago

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One January night, 13-year-old Alessandro, his parents and his two younger sisters slipped out of their St. Paul home. They brought only diapers for the baby and a small suitcase of clothes they grabbed in a hurry, leaving everything else behind.

Thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had come to Minnesota as part of an aggressive campaign to arrest as many immigrants as possible. For two months, the Honduran immigrant family hadn’t left …

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