Residents, businesses on St. Paul’s East Side navigating ICE and construction

The East Side of St. Paul has endured months of overlapping challenges. First came Operation Metro Surge, which left many residents afraid to leave their homes and businesses struggling as customers disappeared. Now, ongoing construction along East 7th Street is creating a new economic strain for the neighborhood's businesses. Photo: Becca Gilbuena

There are about 30,000 residents on the East Side of St. Paul. 

Additionally, there are some 350 businesses in the area. They’re grocery stores, restaurants, barber shops, tattoo parlors, coffee shops, garment shops … community hubs. There’s Metro State University. And halfway through 2026, collectively they have been going through it. 

Truthfully, the pain started prior to the New Year. 

Operation Metro Surge didn’t officially begin until Dec. 1 of last year, but just because it didn’t have some catchy, ominous name, it didn’t mean the federal insurgency upon the Twin Cities hadn’t begun. In fact, weeks prior, the Payne-Phalen neighborhood on the East Side was the site of one of the most disturbing clashes between ICE agents, St. Paul police and protesters – one that left three journalists injured as a result due to being assaulted by federal agents with chemical munitions. 

To compound things, heavy construction along 7th Street – one of the main thoroughfares on the East Side – is negatively impacting residents and businesses alike. The construction by itself is being navigated. But ICE …

“That was worse than the construction,” said Dominick “Big D” Tucker, artist and owner of Good Times Tattoo Studio at 806 7th Street E., Ste 201.

Good Times Tattoos on East 7th Street is one of many East Side businesses working to recover from the economic impacts of Operation Metro Surge while navigating ongoing road construction. Photo: Becca Gilbuena

“Honestly, there was nobody walking down the street. I'm pretty sure everybody was affected, probably 90%. I mean, we're locked in doors and so everything was appointment only then. Even my neighbors at the barbershop, they're locking my door for me. I'm like, ‘Hey, I'm a business. I have to keep my door open for walk-ins.’ They're like (we’re) locking it for you. But I get it. I understand. I totally understand.” 

Tucker paused to collect himself and think back to the thick of Metro Surge. 

“That was a scary time for a lot of people. I had a guy, ‘City’ … who I think he was from Thailand. He was so scared to come here to where he was like, ‘Man, I think I'm gonna find somewhere else to work.’ It was real intense around there for a while,” said Tucker.

It wasn’t just City who was affected by the heavy presence of ICE on the East Side, according to Tucker. 

“All the Hispanic people that walk around selling fruit or donuts … I generally do business with every day, I don't even see anymore,” said Tucker. “That was unfortunate, so unfortunate.” 

The East Side is now navigating another nemesis – construction. 

The construction along 7th Street, which began in March of last year along East 7th and Arcade streets between I-94 in St. Paul and Roselawn Avenue in Maplewood, is greatly impacting businesses along the important corridor. 

Mary Anne Ligeralde Quiroz, cofounder of Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, stands outside the organization's East 7th Street location in St. Paul. Ligeralde Quiroz said East Side businesses have faced months of economic hardship from Operation Metro Surge followed by ongoing road construction. Photo: Harry Colbert, Jr.

“We had the ICE surges, now we’re dealing with construction and then we’ll have winter. It’s neverending,” said Mary Anne Ligeralde Quiroz, cofounder of Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, 788 E. 7th St. “During the winter we were frozen with ICE, now we’re melting with construction.” 

Ligeralde Quiroz said the state isn’t offering relief funds for businesses affected by the construction and as a result, some businesses have shuttered their doors. She said her organization, which is a nonprofit, provided $1,000 in emergency relief to businesses during Operation Metro Surge, but that only went so far and didn’t address disruption due to construction. 

“And there aren’t any funds from the city or county,” said Ligeralde Quiroz. “MnDot is saying it doesn’t have money for business relief and the state bill for business relief didn’t pass in the Legislature.” 

Although there are no state or county funds available, East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC) has stepped up to assist residents and businesses. During Operation Metro Surge and construction, ESNDC has been offering businesses between $2,500 and $5,000 to those affected. But even getting the money out the door has been a challenge. Lisa Xiong, executive director at ESNDC, said many business owners have been leery of offering their information on documents they fear will be used against them by a federal government seeking to cause harm to the immigrant community. 

“Everybody’s getting punished,” said Xiong. “But our community is so resilient. We’re working hard and we’re going forward.” 

“We’re going to be OK. If ICE didn’t stop us, construction won’t stop us,” said Ligeralde Quiroz. “It’s the East Side showing our resilience.”