Academy Award winner Laura Poitras has stunned the New York Film Festival with 'They’re Here', a visceral short film uncovering the dark secrets of 'Operation Metro Surge'. The documentary reveals a campaign of mass deportations in Minnesota, where federal violence met extreme winter conditions to target vulnerable immigrant communities.

A Cinematic Denunciation of Power

Documentary cinema once again shines a light on human vulnerability and the abuse of authority. Laura Poitras, the renowned Oscar-winning filmmaker, alongside Rachel Lauren Mueller, presented the gripping short film 'They’re Here' at the New York Film Festival.

This 24-minute piece is more than a mere record; it is a raw indictment of "Operation Metro Surge". This campaign, allegedly driven by the Donald Trump administration through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), reportedly aimed to purge Somali immigrant populations from the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

The Horror of the Cold

According to the film, the raids were executed over three months of winter, with extreme temperatures plummeting to -23°C (-9.4°F). The operation reportedly utilized "shock and awe" tactics to instill fear and ensure compliance among the targeted populations.

What is ICE?

For those unfamiliar with the US system, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is the federal agency responsible for identifying, arresting, and removing undocumented immigrants from the United States.

Evidence of Brutality

The documentary utilizes a frenetic montage of dash-cams, Instagram clips, and counter-surveillance footage to depict the reality of the operations. Among the most severe incidents reported in the film are:

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Lethal Violence: The death of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents.
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Repression: Systematic use of tear gas, smoke bombs, and pepper spray against protesters.
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Direct Threats: Footage of federal officer Greg Bovino explicitly threatening a citizen.
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Forced Deportations: Images of detainees in chains at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport, transported on non-commercial flights.

The narrative is bolstered by heartbreaking testimonials given under pseudonyms to protect the victims' identities. Edén Villa, a Latin American immigrant, describes the sheer agony of traveling hidden in the trunk of a car just to reach his job without being captured by ICE patrols.

Film Detail Information
Title They’re Here (Documentary)
Duration 24 minutes
Directors Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller
Premiere New York Film Festival (2026)
Location Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA)

To achieve this assembly, the directors relied on the help of Nick Benson (an aircraft spotter) and Josh Begley (a data journalist), as well as material filmed by teenagers from Chicago who tracked raids on a national level.

Source: IMAGO