Madison McVan and Max Nesterak of the Minnesota Reformer produced gripping and enlightening coverage from the frontlines of Operation Metro Surge, an unprecedented incursion of thousands of federal agents to Minnesota in early 2026 that resulted in two American deaths at the hands of law enforcement.
Their on-the-ground reporting reached readers far beyond their typical local audience as the nation turned its attention to Minnesota. Madison rode along with the ICE watchers, a highly organized group of volunteers that popped up to document immigration enforcement activities.
Max spoke with undocumented residents living in hiding for a longform piece that pulled together the numerous documented abuses by ICE agents as well as the unprecedented resistance.
