Lead
Federal border official Tom Homan announced Thursday that a two-month immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area is ending, calling Minnesota “safer” after more than 4,000 arrests. The operation, described by the Department of Homeland Security as its largest immigration enforcement effort to date, followed two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens that drew sharp criticism. The drawdown comes as mass protests, local political backlash and an AP-NORC poll showing broad concern about the administration’s immigration tactics intensified pressure on Washington. State leaders said the operation inflicted economic and social harm and urged federal support for recovery even as ICE signals enforcement will continue.
Key Takeaways
- Operation Metro Surge ran roughly two months and produced more than 4,000 arrests in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, according to Tom Homan.
- Two U.S. citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—were fatally shot during enforcement actions, triggering local outrage and protests.
- The operation prompted mass demonstrations and sustained clashes between federal agents and Minnesota residents and officials.
- Governor Tim Walz proposed a $10 million relief package for businesses citing revenue losses tied to the enforcement activity.
- ICE acting director Todd Lyons said agents are still seeking about 16,840 people in Minnesota with final removal orders.
- An AP-NORC poll found a majority of U.S. adults say the administration’s immigration policies have gone too far, adding political pressure in Congress over DHS funding.
Background
The enforcement action began in December as a focused federal effort in the Twin Cities region and expanded into a broader sweep described by DHS as its largest such operation. Officials initially framed the surge as targeting fraud in publicly funded programs but the operation rapidly encompassed wider immigration enforcement and touched multiple ethnic communities. Minnesota’s large Somali community, most of whom are U.S. citizens, was singled out early in statements by federal officials, drawing criticism that enforcement was targeting communities rather than documented criminal activity. Prior federal crackdowns in other cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles were controversial but did not produce the same sustained public confrontation seen in Minneapolis.
Local and state leaders, community groups and business owners reported immediate economic and social consequences: closed storefronts, canceled appointments and heightened fear among immigrant families. Activists and elected officials mounted organized resistance, staging demonstrations and legal challenges while demanding accountability for agent conduct. The shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti intensified scrutiny of tactics and training, prompting calls for independent investigations and systemic reforms at ICE and DHS. National debate over the balance between immigration enforcement and civil rights intensified as lawmakers weighed emergency funding for the department.
Main Event
Tom Homan, brought in to lead the Minnesota effort in late January, announced on Thursday that federal officers would begin leaving the state, saying the surge had achieved its goals and made communities safer. Homan touted the figure of more than 4,000 arrests as evidence of success and described the withdrawal as a tactical drawdown rather than an end to enforcement. Governor Tim Walz responded by urging vigilance and rejecting praise for federal actions he called “unnecessary, unwarranted and in many cases unconstitutional,” while announcing a proposed $10 million package to aid affected businesses. Walz said Homan assured him officers would start departing immediately and added that state officials would assist in facilitating departures if needed.
ICE’s acting director, Todd Lyons, told a congressional hearing that roughly 16,840 people in Minnesota still have final orders of removal and that enforcement activity will continue through local ICE offices. The federal announcement followed weeks of large public protests, some confrontations at enforcement sites and vocal criticism from Minnesota’s congressional delegation and city leaders. Homan said he intends to remain on the ground in Minnesota to oversee the drawdown into next week, crediting recent cooperation from some local leaders for a shift in operations. Local residents and advocacy groups, however, warned that the damage—economic, social and human—will linger long after the last officer leaves.
Analysis & Implications
The decision to pull back reflects significant political and operational costs for the administration. The combination of fatal shootings, widespread protests and a hostile local political environment made the Minnesota surge uniquely disruptive compared with prior operations in other cities. Politically, the episode has complicated efforts in Congress to secure routine DHS funding, with many Democrats conditioning support on reforms and accountability measures for ICE and related agencies. The dispute over funding raises the prospect of a short-term fiscal standoff that could affect other DHS programs if lawmakers do not reach agreement.
Operationally, the presence of final orders for about 16,840 people in Minnesota illustrates a persistent enforcement backlog and the gap between removal orders and actual deportations. Even as the visible surge recedes, ICE’s stated intent to continue locating people with final orders suggests enforcement will be less concentrated but ongoing, shifting pressure to local offices and ongoing immigration courts. The administration’s narrative that the operation reduced criminality will face legal and empirical tests: many arrested individuals were described by local officials as having no criminal records, and community impacts—economic decline, school absenteeism and mistrust of authorities—are difficult to reverse quickly.
For communities and local governments, the episode underscores a longer-term policy choice: whether to invest in legal support, community recovery and local trust-building or to brace for recurring federal enforcement spikes. If Congress ties DHS funding to reforms, Minnesota may become a focal case for national rules on use of force, local-federal cooperation and oversight mechanisms. Internationally, aggressive domestic enforcement tactics that result in civilian deaths can influence U.S. credibility in human rights and migration discussions, and fuel broader debates about proportionality and oversight in immigration enforcement.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Minnesota (Twin Cities) |
|---|---|
| Operation duration | ~2 months |
| Arrests reported by Homan | More than 4,000 |
| People with final removal orders (statewide) | About 16,840 (ICE) |
This table summarizes official figures cited by federal officials and ICE testimony. While arrest totals are attributed to the Minnesota surge, the larger pool of final removal orders reflects cases accumulated over time and located across the state. Comparing the concentrated surge to previous city operations is constrained by differences in duration, scope and local cooperation; prior operations in Chicago and Los Angeles drew controversy but did not generate the same combination of fatalities and sustained mass protest in Minneapolis.
Reactions & Quotes
“The surge is leaving Minnesota safer… it’s less of a sanctuary state for criminals.”
Tom Homan, Border Czar
Homan framed the move as progress on enforcement goals even as critics disputed that characterization and highlighted noncriminal individuals caught in sweeps.
“It’s going to be a long road… The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here.”
Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minnesota)
Walz used stark language to describe local economic and social damage and urged federal financial support tied to accountability demands.
“Minnesotans stood together, stared down ICE, and never blinked.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)
Klobuchar praised local resistance and reiterated calls for a full overhaul of ICE and accountability for agents’ conduct.
Unconfirmed
- Claims that the majority of those arrested were “dangerous criminals” remain contested; local officials say many had no criminal records and some were U.S. citizens.
- Details about the precise timeline for the complete withdrawal of all federal officers have not been independently verified beyond Homan’s statement that departures would begin “immediately.”
- Long-term economic damage estimates tied to the operation vary and lack a comprehensive, verified statewide assessment at this time.
Bottom Line
The federal announcement that the concentrated Minnesota surge will end marks a tactical retreat but not a full stop to immigration enforcement in the state. Officials from ICE and DHS signal ongoing efforts to locate people with final removal orders even as state leaders and community groups demand accountability and federal support for recovery. Politically, the episode strengthens calls in Congress for oversight and possible conditioning of DHS funding on reforms, making Minnesota a likely reference point in national debates over immigration enforcement policies and agency practices.
For Minnesotans, the immediate priority will be economic and social recovery, independent investigations into the shootings, and securing protections for families affected by the sweeps. The state’s response—legal actions, local protections and requests for federal remediation—will shape whether the announced drawdown leads to reconciliation or a prolonged period of legal and political conflict.
Sources
- Associated Press — original reporting on the Minnesota operation — (national news organization)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) news — (official agency statements)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) news — (official department statements)