FEBRUARY 13, 2026

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

For months, the Trump administration has inflicted a reign of terror and chaos through Operation Metro Surge. The fact that the administration says that it ‘yielded the results they came for’ is a flashing red light warning to our entire nation. What are their results?

Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead by federal agents. A 5-year-old boy was snatched from his own driveway — despite his family’s pending asylum case and no prior orders for deportation. A Saint Paul Hmong elder who is a U.S. citizen was dragged out of his home into the cold by masked agents in front of a frightened child because federal agents acted on erroneous information. A 23-year-old Saint Paul woman and U.S. citizen was taken from her car as she was warming it up in front of her house and detained for two days — shackled by her wrists and ankles, called a racial slur, and suffering a concussion and a seizure. Just days later, she was rearrested on baseless charges, then released. A Saint Paul man suffered eight skull fractures after being unlawfully arrested by federal agents. On Wednesday, federal agents forced a highspeed chase through Saint Paul’s Cathedral Hill neighborhood that resulted in injuries and extreme danger to residents.

Minnesotans’ constitutional rights have been violated. Children are afraid to go to school. Businesses are closing — some permanently. Local communities are facing mounting bills as their public safety budgets are stretched to the breaking point. Thousands have been detained unlawfully. Last Friday afternoon, Representative Craig, and I were denied entry to the Whipple Federal Building as we attempted to exercise our right to conduct congressional oversight at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. As Members of Congress, it is not only our right, but our responsibility to ensure our constituents held in ICE detention facilities are being treated with the dignity and humanity they deserve. 

Congresswoman McCollum and Congresswoman Craig address members of the media after being denied entry to the Whipple Federal Building.

The damage inflicted by President Trump’s devastating surge in Minnesota is clear proof that his administration’s immigration policy is nothing but a campaign of terror and retribution against Americans he doesn’t like, and it is being implemented by an inept, out of control, and cruel Department of Homeland Security. It’s up to Congress and the courts to stop these operations. It’s up to Congress to fix the mess that Trump has created. No community in America should have to face the carnage and lasting damage inflicted on Minnesota communities by the Trump administration for years to come. 

Minnesotans have suffered the reality of thousands of incompetent, undertrained, and unidentifiable federal agents who have been roaming our neighborhoods and acting with brutality and impunity. In the face of these extraordinary challenges, Minnesotans have responded admirably by caring for our neighbors and looking out for one another.

WASHINGTON, D.C. UPDATE

McCollum Legislation to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft Advances in the House 
This week, my bipartisan legislation to crack down on catalytic converter theft was passed by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. Known as the PART Act (H.R. 5221), this bill provides law enforcement with additional tools to address this problem that has led violent incidents of theft — even costing the life of one of our neighbors in Saint Paul. After passing the subcommittee with bipartisan support, the PART Act will now be considered by the full Energy and Commerce Committee. I look forward to working with my House colleagues to see this common-sense bill become law.   

Minnesotans Testify at Hearing About the Need to Reform DHS

Minnesotans, including Mendota Heights police Police Chief Kelly McCarthy, and Rev. Anthony Galloway of Wayman AME Church, joined a House Democratic Steering and Policy Hearing on Thursday morning, to highlight the violent and unconstitutional actions by federal agents during the Trump administration’s months-long occupation of Minnesota. Chief McCarthy testified on the violent conduct of ICE agents in the Cities. Rev. Galloway spoke about what he has witnessed and felt in his community. Including testifying that he has "personally been stopped and aggressively confronted by ICE agents while escorting frightened neighbors — encounters that only deescalated when they saw my clergy collar and decided, in their words, that I was not 'Somali.'" Watch their powerful testimony below:

The Committee also heard testimony from Renee Good's family attorney and Minnesotans whose families and communities have been terrorized by ICE and Border Patrol lawlessness. The conduct of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota does not live up to the values of our police departments and many law enforcement agencies across the nation. For the past ten weeks, our state has endured the sustained, coordinated violation of our civil rights by our own federal government. Minnesotans are being racially profiled on a mass scale, unconstitutionally taken from their homes, and assaulted on our streets by federal agents carrying military equipment typically used in war zones. You can watch my opening remarks below.

Congress needs to reform the Department of Homeland Security. It must fund FEMA, disaster relief, cybersecurity, and other functions of DHS that keep Americans safe. But I refuse to vote for another penny for ICE and Border Patrol while they bring chaos to our state, violate Minnesotans’ civil rights, and trample on the Constitution. Democrats in Congress are working together to insist on transparency, accountability, and constraints on ICE and Border Patrol agents as conditions for funding their agencies. While we fight for those reforms, I support Ranking Member DeLauro’s new DHS funding bill, which would fund the entire agency except for ICE, Border Patrol, and the Office of the Secretary — while prohibiting Kristi Noem’s use of taxpayer-funded luxury private jets.

Meeting with Federal Employees Who Serve Minnesotans

Employees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) visited my office to give an update about the challenges for federal workers who provide critical services to Minnesotans. Workers from the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Social Security Administration (SSA) discussed many difficulties facing their ability to serve Minnesotans, including the Trump administration’s mistreatment of workers, Reductions in Force (RIFS) through DOGE, the erosion of collective bargaining rights, and the ongoing damage caused by the presence of unidentifiable federal agents in our communities. Despite their various backgrounds, their message was clear: federal workers are feeling abandoned by the Trump administration and need our support. I stand shoulder to shoulder with them and thank them for their brave and tireless service to our country. 

Congresswoman McCollum with AFGE national members. 

Meeting with Special Olympics International

This summer, Minnesota hosts the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, and I had the honor of hosting two Minnesota athletes who are slated to compete! We spent some time talking about their plans for competition, their love for their chosen sports, and why inclusivity in sports is so important. These athletes are not only honing their technical skills for the games – they are learning leadership skills, making new friends, and gaining confidence in everyday life. I can’t wait to catch the games this summer – you can learn more about how to watch and sign up to volunteer here.

Congresswoman McCollum with athletes Tyler Sarff and Amelie Wall. 

Meeting with White Earth Band of Ojibwe

Representative Eugene Sommers of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe visited my office this week. I’m proud to stand with the White Earth Band and all of Minnesota’s sovereign tribal nations in shared commitment to improving our nation-to-nation relationships. White Earth is working hard to improve public safety, education, health care, housing, and many other services for their community, and they are looking to the federal government to be good trustees and meet our treaty obligations.

Congresswoman McCollum with Eugene Sommers, White Earth Nation District Two Representative.

Meeting with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Representatives from Leech Lake’s tribal council, educational department, and other government employees joined me this week to discuss tribal consultation on the future of the Department of Education, the return of their tribal land illegally transferred to the federal government in the 1940s, and other federal accountability needed to support tribal sovereignty and ensure we fulfill our federal trust and treaty responsibilities.

Congresswoman McCollum with Steve White, LLBO Council Rep., Ben Swankier, LLBO Tribal Attorney, Chris Murray, LLBO Tribal Attorney, Chris Haugene, LLBO Government Relations Specialist, Amadeo Bellino, LLBO Government Relations Specialist, Laurie Harper, LLBO Education Director, Natalie Bebeau, LLBO Grants/Budget Manager for ED, John Harte, DC Tribal Rep

MINNESOTA UPDATE

Meeting with National Guard 

On Friday, I had the privilege of visiting with members of the Minnesota National Guard’s 224th Transportation Company, which currently serves as the National Guard Reaction Force – South. Based in Faribault, these Minnesotans have been deployed  to assist the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in protecting life, preserving property, and helping ensure the safety of all community members during the Operation Metro Surge. My thanks to Major General Shawn Manke and Colonel Kristen Auge for arranging the visit and my deepest appreciation to the 224th Transportation Company for their work during this critical period. 

Launching Minnesota-Grown Innovation That Keeps Us Warm and Supports Local Jobs

This morning, I attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Steamfitters-Pipefitters Local 455 training center in Saint Paul to mark an exciting new partnership between Local 455 and Flow Environmental Systems, a Minnesota-based company pioneering a refrigerant-free CO2 heat pump built to operate in extreme climates without relying on potent greenhouse gases. Through a pilot program run by Grid Catalyst and funded by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Energy Alley Initiative, Flow is collaborating with Local 455 to install its cutting-edge heat pump at the union’s training center, demonstrating the technology’s capabilities while providing hands-on workforce training to ensure it is installed and maintained to the highest standards and to support new career pathways.  While the Trump administration is doing their best to stall America’s clean energy progress, Minnesota’s business community is joining with labor to drive innovation and build the workforce of the future, delivering a win for workers, a win for our state’s businesses, and a win for the environment.

Congresswoman McCollum with (left to right) Sean Jarvie, St. Paul Mayor Her, Jeremy McConkey, Rep. Larry Kraft (46A), and Nina Axelson 

Olympians Giving Minnesotans Reasons to be Proud

Amid all that's happening in Minnesota, it's important to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our many Minnesota Olympians who have worked so hard and for so long to earn the privilege of competing in the Milano-Cortina Games. Minnesotans have won three medals already — Jesse Diggins of Afton won bronze in women's 10km freestyle, Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin of Duluth won silver in mixed doubles curling, and Paula Moltzan of Prior Lake won a bronze medal in the women’s team combined Alpine skiing event. Congratulations to all 18 Minnesotans who are competing in this year's games!

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Know your Rights 

Thank you to Attorney General Ellison for his dedication to defending the rights of Minnesotans. As you continue to protest peacefully, I wanted to share some valuable resources that AG Ellison has put together. Here is the Know Your Rights with ICE page. This page provides informational so that Minnesota organizations—like hospitals, shelters, and houses of worship—can continue to provide safe and welcoming environments for everyone they serve. AG Ellison has also put together a Federal Action Reporting Form. Here, Minnesotans can report incidents or effects related to or caused by recent federal actions in Minnesota.

The IRS is Now Accepting 2025 Federal Tax Returns

Filing electronically and choosing direct deposit is recommended by the IRS as the fastest and safest way to receive a refund. Eligible taxpayers can get help and file for free. For more information on filing federal tax returns, click here. For information about free tax preparation, click here.

If you plan to use a tax professional to prepare and file your tax returns, the IRS encourages you to review tips for choosing a tax preparer.

Be careful to avoid tax scams and people impersonating the IRS. Here are some tips to avoid scams.

Minnesota Heating Assistance

Struggling to pay your heating bill this winter? See if you qualify for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program. Homeowners and renters both qualify and are eligible based on household size and income.  Applications must be received by May 31, 2026. For more information visit this link or call the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 800-657-3710.

I-94 Closure Planned for February 13th-15th 

Due to safety concerns and technical challenges, last weekend’s closure of I-94 has been rescheduled to this weekend. Workers will begin to set the bridge beams for the new Kellogg Blvd/3rd Street bridge construction over the interstate on Friday, February 13 at 10 PM through Sunday, February 15 at 5 PM. The closed area will include both Eastbound and Westbound lanes between Hwy 61 and Hwy 52. For detours and more information check here.  

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you are impacted by Republicans' cuts to health care, food assistance, or other actions by the Trump administration and Congress, I want to hear about it. Please contact my office directly at (651) 224-9191 or click here to share your story. 

If cuts to SNAP have left you or your family food insecure, click here for information on food shelves in the East Metro. 

Your voice matters and empowers my vote in Congress.
I encourage you to share your stories with me.

Thank You
Thank you to the hundreds of new subscribers to my weekly newsletter! This update is designed to provide timely information about my work in Washington and Minnesota, and to provide resources that can be helpful to you. As always, please stay in touch: Voice your policy opinion, ask for help with a federal agency, or find all of my recent statements at mccollum.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress