Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday that former Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill will chair a new council to document “the truth” about immigration enforcement efforts in the state.
Walz established the “Governor’s Council on Recording the Truth of Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS” in March. Operation PARRIS is a federal investigation into Minnesota refugee fraud that was initiated in January.
Operation Metro Surge was a large-scale immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota that was conducted by the Trump administration in late 2025 and the early part of 2026.
During Operation Metro Surge, the Department of Homeland Security said it was working to apprehend the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and published lists of the violent offenders it apprehended during the operation.
The operation faced widespread resistance from left-wing activists who worked to obstruct immigration officers as they carried out enforcement. During the operation, two Minnesotans — Alex Pretti and Renee Good — were shot and killed by federal agents.
Walz said his new council will “help create a lasting public record of both the harm endured and the resilience Minnesotans demonstrated during this difficult chapter in our state’s history.”
The governor released a list of council members this week and named Cahill as the chair.
Cahill is most well known as the judge who presided over former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial and has faced criticism for his rulings in that case, including his decision to not allow certain police training documents to be shown to the jury.
Walz’s office said in a press release that Cahill is “widely recognized for his commitment to the fair administration of justice, judicial transparency, and public service.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and The Advocates for Human Rights each were allowed to appoint one member to the council. On the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, the council is referred to as the “Minnesota Truth Council.”
Luke Sprinkel contributed to this report.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
