The Trump administration will conclude its controversial large-scale immigration operation in Minnesota, officials announced Thursday. The decision, revealed at a press conference in Minneapolis, follows weeks of mounting criticism and protests sparked by the fatal shootings of two U.S. Citizens by federal agents in January.
“I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude,” said Tom Homan, the White House border czar. “A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue to the next week.”
The operation, dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” began in late November 2025 with the deployment of over 3,000 immigration agents to the Minneapolis area, according to officials. The stated goal was to bolster immigration enforcement in the region. Prior to the surge, approximately 150 federal immigration agents were operating in the city, which has a police force of roughly 600 officers.
The announcement comes amid widespread condemnation of the operation, fueled by the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Decent. The shootings prompted protests and accusations of racial profiling, warrantless searches and violations of court orders. Governor Tim Walz described the operation as an “unprecedented federal invasion” that left the state with “deep damage, generational trauma, they left us with economic ruin, they left us with many unanswered questions.”
Homan indicated that the withdrawal would be contingent on continued cooperation from state and local law enforcement. He stated that local police will now reliably inform immigration agents when someone in the country illegally is being released from jails, and that Minnesota has strengthened its practice of state prisons notifying ICE about relevant individuals completing their sentences. He also cited increased police response times to removing protest barricades as a factor in the decision.
During the operation, immigration agents arrested over 4,000 people, according to the Department of Homeland Security. More than 200 individuals were arrested for allegedly impeding the work of law enforcement officers.
Despite the drawdown, Homan emphasized that immigration enforcement would continue in Minnesota. “If you’re in this country illegally, you’re not off the table,” he said. He will remain in Minnesota to oversee the withdrawal process.
The conclusion of Operation Metro Surge coincides with a looming shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate failed to advance a funding bill for the agency on Thursday, leaving Democrats and Republicans at an impasse over potential reforms.
