Aurelia’s Authentic Mexican Food, located next to Tavern 4&5 on Wagner Way in Eden Prairie, has supported its employees during Operation Metro Surge despite financial strain. Photo by Rachel Hoppe Eden Prairie businesses say they are feeling the effects of heightened federal immigration enforcement across Minnesota. Some business owners report fewer customers and employees missing work out of fear for their safety. Those fears intensified after about 3,000 federal immigration agents arrived in Minnesota in early December as part of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation known as Operation Metro Surge. The future of Operation Metro Surge — the initiative that brought thousands of federal immigration agents to the state — remains unclear, MinnPost reported. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke with President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss the future of immigration enforcement in the state. Both the president and governor said the call was productive and that Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and an unknown number of ICE agents could leave the state as soon as Tuesday, MinnPost reported. It remains too soon to determine whether the discussion will mark a turning point for Minnesota. A local restaurant’s experience One business feeling the effects of Operation Metro Surge is Aurelia’s Authentic Mexican Food on Wagner Way. Emmanuel Espinal Ortiz, who owns Aurelia’s, said the restaurant has experienced a noticeable impact. “It’s affected us,” Espinal Ortiz said. “We’ve lost customers from the Latino community — quite a lot of customers. Employees don’t want to go out to work. They’re afraid.” The loss of customers has hurt the restaurant’s sales, Espinal Ortiz said. He said the situation has taken a psychological toll on employees, many of whom are afraid to come to work or spend time in the community. During the first days of the ICE operation, the restaurant kept its front door locked to help ensure employee safety. Espinal Ortiz said he and other restaurant managers support employees who choose not to come to work and will not force them to do so. “It’s of their own free will,” Espinal Ortiz said. “If they want to come, they can; if they don’t, then no.” Missing work has put financial strain on some employees, though Aurelia’s does what it can to help, he said. “It has affected them financially because they’re not working,” Espinal Ortiz added. “We support them a bit, but we can’t do it 100% for them either.” Aurelia’s has posted know-your-rights information around the restaurant explaining employees’ rights, including that they are not required to answer questions from ICE agents if they enter the business, Espinal Ortiz said. Staff are also allowed to keep the front door locked if they feel unsafe. Restaurant management will also pay for employees’ Uber rides or personally drive them to and from work if they do not feel safe commuting on their own. General business operations, such as the restaurant’s hours, have not yet been affected, Espinal Ortiz said. Aurelia’s was closed Jan. 23, however, to participate in a statewide “ICE Out” protest that encouraged community members not to work or spend money for the day. Espinal Ortiz expressed gratitude for support from the broader Eden Prairie community, many of whom have continued dining at the restaurant since December. “The whole Hispanic community in general is not (coming), but the Eden Prairie community, they are all supporting us,” Espinal Ortiz said. “We’re very grateful to them.” Community members have brought know-your-rights cards for employees and whistles to alert others if agents come to the restaurant, he said. A nearby resident also shared her contact information in case the restaurant ever needs help. “It’s a very, very beautiful community here in Eden Prairie,” Espinal Ortiz said. Eden Prairie leaders encourage eating local Mayor Ron Case encouraged community members who have the resources to continue supporting local businesses during the Jan. 20 Eden Prairie City Council meeting. Case and Council Member Lisa Toomey went on a tour of local businesses with staff members from U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison’s office to hear about their needs in light of the ICE surge. The tour only made it to Asia Mall due to time constraints, which has seen a decrease in attendance from customers. Visiting the Asia Mall allowed the group to visit several restaurants within one venue, Case said. He said that some employees from Asia Mall have also stopped coming into work because of Operation Metro Surge. Fewer customers are eating at the mall’s restaurants, and overall foot traffic is down. “Frequent our restaurants so that we can keep them in business,” Case said. “Because when we come out of this, and we will soon, I hope, we want our restaurants to be here so that we can continue to enjoy them.” Representatives from Asia Mall declined to comment on Tuesday. Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce President Pat MulQueeny expressed similar sentiments after the Jan. 22 State of the City address. Businesses are worried about their immigrant employees, MulQueeny said. Even when those workers have proper work permits, it sometimes does not seem to be enough to protect them. The businesses MulQueeny has spoken with do their best to support their staff, but it has not been easy, he added. “We have businesses that are short-staffed, where staff are scared to come to work. They are managing the best they can,” MulQueeny said during the address. “I would just ask that you show some understanding for both the businesses and the people dealing with them, and also get out there and support our local businesses, because the impact is real.” Espinal Ortiz said the one thing Aurelia’s needs from the community is for them to continue supporting the restaurant, as they did during other difficult times for the restaurant industry, like the pandemic. “(The community) really (has) always supported us,” he said. “During the pandemic, they supported us a lot. Back then, there were lines going way out, people waiting for their food. It’s very beautiful.” Related: Hundreds gather in Eden Prairie for vigil honoring victims of recent ICE shootings About the Contributor Rachel Hoppe is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she studied journalism and Spanish studies. She wrote for the Minnesota Daily, The Wake Magazine and the Minnesota Star Tribune while attending the U. Originally from Chanhassen, Rachel is excited to be back in the southwest metro area.