The Governor’s Council to Document the Impacts of Operation Metro Surge will document the impacts of Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS (the "Operations"). This independent, non-partisan body, composed of leaders with a range of expertise and perspectives, will gather testimony, data, and firsthand accounts to ensure people’s experiences are preserved and heard. It will work to make recommendations to prevent future harm and support the state’s long-term recovery.
“Minnesotans know what happened in their communities, but too many stories have yet to be heard, documented, and shared. For months, families lived in fear, children were separated from their parents, and our neighbors were subjected to racial profiling and unlawful detentions. At the same time, people showed up for one another with compassion, courage, and resilience. This council will make sure the full truth is told.” - Governor Walz
The Council operates under the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, and victim-centered inquiry, consistent with international best practices for truth-seeking mechanisms.
Testimonies and firsthand accounts may be given by immigrants, refugees, U.S. citizens, journalists, legal observers, and community members who experienced or witnessed human rights violations during the Operations. Participation is voluntary and available to people regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
The Council will collect accounts of human rights violations, including physical, psychological, familial, economic, and civic harms resulting from the Operations, creating a formal, public record of these experiences.
The Council is not a court. It has no power to prosecute, convict, or impose penalties. Its findings are distinct from and without prejudice to any ongoing or future legal proceedings.
The Council will include up to 15 members and partner with The Advocates for Human Rights to collect stories and hold public meetings. The Council will release a final report by December 1, 2026. Individuals can apply to be on the Governor’s Council through the Office of the Secretary of State.
The Advocates for Human Rights has spent decades standing alongside survivors of human rights violations, documenting their experiences, amplifying their voices, and building the historical record that accountability requires.
The Advocates documented testimony of victims of the Khmer Rouge, provided on-the-ground support for transitional justice processes in Peru and Sierra Leone, and served as the operational partner of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission's work in the diaspora.
As an international human rights organization, The Advocates works with UN mandate holders, including the UN Special Rapporteurs on Truth, Justice, and Reparation and Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, and with other international human rights organizations and experts, ensuring this project meets the highest global standards for truth-seeking.
