State Program Allows Riot-Exposed Individuals to Claim Benefits
In recent testimony, two officials from the administration of Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz indicated that some individuals exposed to tear gas during protests have used those experiences to qualify for state-funded paid family and medical leave.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Democratic Representative Cedric Frazier inquired whether applicants for the paid leave program cite “harm and damage” from “chemical weapons” as justification for their claims. Evan Lowe, who serves as the deputy director of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, confirmed this, stating, “The short answer to your question is yes.”
Lowe mentioned the connection between the applications and incidents of violence related to what he called Operation Metro Surge—referring to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. He noted that, while it might not come as a surprise, the program allows those seriously injured time to seek treatment and recover. “I don’t know if there are any additional details,” he added cautiously.
Greg Norfleet, the director of the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, also discussed the impact of these events on the program. He indicated that, although it’s challenging to quantify the exact effect, there have been inquiries about the program’s interaction with health issues arising from Operation Metro Surge.
“We know this has an impact on the claims we receive, but it is relatively difficult to quantify,” he stated.
For those accepted into Minnesota’s paid leave initiative, they can take up to 12 weeks per year for medical or family reasons. Interestingly, if someone needs both types of leave, they can combine them for a maximum of 20 weeks in a year. The program allows for continuous leave or short, intermittent breaks. While on leave, participants typically receive between 55% and 90% of their regular wages, with a cap at the state average, which is currently $1,423 per week.
In recent months, Minnesota has faced heightened scrutiny due to reports of a significant COVID-19 relief and welfare fraud scheme, which predominantly involved individuals of Somali descent. Following the emergence of these fraud allegations, the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security initiated Operation Metro Surge in December 2025.
Tragically, this led to federal agents shooting and killing individuals, Renee Good and Alex Preti, within weeks of each other in Minneapolis, which subsequently incited increased anti-immigrant sentiments throughout the state and beyond.
