Two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis have been suspended following allegations they provided false statements regarding the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant on January 9, 2026, according to multiple reports.
The suspensions come as the Trump administration prepares to end “Operation Metro Surge,” a controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that sparked protests and led to the deaths of two U.S. Citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Fine. White House border czar Tom Homan announced the drawdown of the operation on Thursday, February 12, 2026, stating a “significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue to the next week.”
The shooting involving the Venezuelan immigrant occurred during the operation. Details surrounding the incident remain contested. The Department of Homeland Security initially claimed Renee Good was attempting to run over law enforcement officers when an ICE officer fatally shot her. However, local officials disputed this account, and newly obtained cellphone video released on January 9, 2026, showed moments leading up to the shooting, prompting further scrutiny.
The suspensions of the two ICE agents are directly related to discrepancies in their accounts of the shooting. The county attorney has stated that the ICE officer involved “does not have complete immunity here,” suggesting a potential legal challenge to the officer’s actions.
The decision to end Operation Metro Surge follows a period of heightened tension in Minneapolis. Protests erupted after the shootings of Pretti and Good, with over 1,000 demonstrators taking to the streets. On January 10, 2026, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported 30 arrests after a segment of protesters allegedly blocked roadways and damaged a hotel. Despite the arrests, officials praised the majority of demonstrators for maintaining a peaceful protest.
Governor Tim Walz described the ICE 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.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared the end of the operation a victory, stating, “They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation.”
The Department of Homeland Security also announced a policy change on January 8, 2026, requiring members of Congress to schedule visits to ICE facilities at least seven days in advance. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited “escalating riots and political violence” targeting federal buildings as the reason for the change.
The Senate failed to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security on February 12, 2026, virtually guaranteeing a shutdown of the agency as Democrats and Republicans remained at odds over potential reforms. Tom Homan will remain in Minnesota to oversee the withdrawal of ICE personnel.
