Despite <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/02/18/ice-drawdown-indications-point-to-steady-enforcement-activity-outside-of-minneapolis-st-paul"target="_blank" >a supposed personnel drawdown,</a> the Department of Homeland Security is calling its ICE rollout in Minnesota the largest immigration operation ever. <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-border-czar-says-drawdown-of-ice-agents-in-minnesota-continues-but-smaller-force-will-remain"target="_blank" >Now that thousands of federal agents are leaving,</a> how are the state and its communities faring? We check in with the neighbors, school leaders, and small business owners <a href="https://www.startribune.com/is-ice-really-pulling-out-of-minnesota-observer-data-tells-a-complicated-story/601580496"target="_blank" >keeping Minnesota running.</a> Find more of our programs <a href="https://the1a.org/shows"target="_blank" >online</a>. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/the1a"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org/the1a</a>. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Unpacking The State Of The Union

Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A.Support NPR and get your news sponsor-free with 1A+. Learn more at plus.npr.org/the1a