ICE responds to KTTC request for financial data pertaining to Operation Metro Surge

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTTC) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has provided its response to a KTTC pubic records request submitted in late February.

In an email received last week, ICE indicated KTTC’s request for federal wages paid to its agents and officers, during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, was not specific enough to identify existing agency records.

ICE, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said no information is able to be provided per KTTC’s Feb. 25 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, with the data request being administratively closed as of July 6.

“The FOIA provides a right of access to existing agency records. It does not require agencies to create new records, conduct research or analysis, answer questions, or otherwise interpret or explain matters for a requester,” the email from ICE’s Office of Information. Governance and Privacy said. “Your recent correspondence, however, either seeks answers to questions, explanations, clarifications, or general information; rather than identifying specific existing agency records. As such, it falls outside the scope of the FOIA.”

KTTC’s initial request, made through DHS’s online FOIA portal, included a timeframe for federal wage disbursements, along with per diem expenditures, for members of ICE assigned to Operation Metro Surge.

“KTTC is seeking DHS wage payments made to all ICE agents/officers associated with Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota since its start in Dec. 2025 through the time this public records request is fulfilled in 2026,” the request said. “Please provide ay per diem payments made for these employees during this time period as well. Thank you.”

Last week’s response mentioned KTTC can “submit a request that clearly identifies the particular records you are seeking.”

ICE’s outreach came one week after KTTC provided an on-air update on the lack of response to multiple attempts for a status check on this matter from Washington.

It’s noted on DHS’s website that FOIA requires an agency to respond to public records requests within 20 business days. This one went unanswered for nearly 130 calendar days.

EDITOR’S NOTE: KTTC will be reworking the wording of our initial request and submitting a second request for the same information.

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