Cecilia Lei

He told us what he saw on East Lake Street, Hispanic business enclave of the city, back during the peak of ICE's operation.

Barrett says there was plenty of anecdotal evidence that economic activity has slowed down, workers staying home and customers staying away due to safety concerns.

There was also the massive general strike and economic blockout to protest ICE raids in late January.

But calculating a precise cost of all of this could take time.

Recent analysis suggested there were over $100 million in lost wages in the city of Minneapolis and at least $200 million in economic damages in the state.

Democratic Governor Tim Walz has proposed rental assistance and $10 million in forgivable loans, but that would require some Minnesota Republicans to back it, and several have already pointed to previous fraud scandals in the state as they ruled out their support.

On a recent reporting trip, Barrett returned to Minneapolis.

He told us that while many of the businesses, like small shops and taquerias, have reopened their doors, things haven't returned to what they were before the raids.

He told us about Araceli Orozco, the owner of a food stand that was closed during the surge, as well as a nearby restaurant bar that recently started serving food again.

But like her neighbors, she's feeling the financial crunch.

In their statement, an ICE spokesperson told the Journal that removing criminals from the streets made it, quote, safer for everyone, including business owners and their customers.

And finally, a few other stories we're following.

A bit of relief may be coming for Cuba.

The U.S.

Coast Guard is allowing a Russian tanker full of crude oil to approach the island nation, breaking the administration's three-month-long oil blockade.

Cuba has been suffering from daily blackouts, gas shortages, and deteriorating medical care since a lost access to Venezuelan oil.

The New York Times reports that the tanker could arrive to Cuba by tonight and by the country a few weeks before fuel reserves run out.

It's not clear why the U.S.

didn't stop the Russian tanker, but the U.S.

blockade has attracted criticism from the U.N.