Occupied: Minnesota is a six-episode docuseries that takes an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the federal occupation of Minneapolis by masked ICE agents through Operation Metro Surge, and the courageous actions of everyday Americans who rose up to defend their neighbors—no matter the cost.
Dear Friends,
We, a group of Minnesota filmmakers, journalists and activists, are asking for your support for a documentary project about the occupation of Minnesota by militarized ICE agents on the streets of the Twin Cities in one of the largest domestic immigration enforcement actions in American history.
The Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge deployed thousands of masked, armed agents throughout the winter of 2025/2026. People were taken from their homes, their workplaces, their cars. Facilities were overcrowded. Access to legal counsel was denied. Three people died. No federal charges have followed.
But Minnesotans showed up. Neighbors, clergy, elected officials, teachers and parents formed an impactful resistance that ultimately led to ICE’s retreat. Our docuseries will chart the course of the Trump administration’s buildup of anti-immigrant rhetoric and tactics, the widening net of the crackdown, the resilience of Minneapolis’ immigrant population, and triumph of mutual aid.
Our goal is to leave our audience with an implicit call to action by showing the unanswered and unpunished injustices perpetrated on the American people in the Twin Cities and what can be learned from the example set forth by the citizens of Minnesota.
WHY NOW?
Minneapolis is not a story from the past. It’s a warning about what comes next.
Less than a year into Trump’s second term, federal agents descended on Minnesota communities, leaving behind fear, arrests, detention, injuries, and death. What unfolded was more than an immigration crackdown. It was a test of federal power — and of how a city responds when that power turns against its own people. Minneapolis has lived this before.
After the murder of George Floyd, the city became a global symbol of state-sanctioned violence, resistance, and accountability. When ICE arrived, that history shaped the response. But now, the story is at risk of being buried. As the country moves toward the midterm elections, the narrative around immigration, policing, protest, and federal authority is already being rewritten. Voters should not enter that election with only campaign slogans, official statements, and edited soundbites defining what happened.
OCCUPIED: MINNESOTA preserves the record before it disappears.
Told by the people who lived it, this series bears witness to what happened, what it cost, and what it reveals about America now — before the country decides what comes next.
OUR TEAM is made up of a diverse group of all local Minnesota filmmakers including:
Dymanh Chhoun - Photojournalist/Multimedia Specialist
Jordan Connor - Producer/Actor
Justin Dobies - Writer/Director/Producer
Brianna Lee Johnson - Producer/Director
Nick Junkersfeld - Cinematographer/Producer
Touissant Morrison - Independent Journalist/Producer
Dave Nimmer - Reporter/Journalist
Alyssa Oursler - Writer/Journalist
Vaughn Potter - Cinematographer/Journalist
Your donation is greatly appreciated and will go towards production expenses including equipment rentals, location fees, crew meals, editorial, post production and travel.
For more information and other opportunities to be involved please visit our site - https://occupiedmn.com