Small ICE Force Stays in Minnesota After Surge Ends

Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's border czar, announced this week that the major immigration enforcement push in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge, is ending. Most of the 3,000 federal agents sent to the state over the past two months will pull back, leaving just a small security force behind. The move comes after talks with state and local leaders improved coordination on arrests and protests.

Background

The operation started in late 2025 when the Trump administration sent thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to Minneapolis and surrounding areas. This was a big jump from the usual 150 agents working there. The push aimed to round up people in the country without legal permission, focusing on those seen as threats to public safety.

It all ramped up after reports of problems with welfare programs in Minnesota hit the news. Right-wing voices pointed to cases of fraud, and President Trump linked that to unrest in the streets. By early January 2026, agents were out in force, outnumbering the local police who have about 600 officers.

Things turned tense fast. On January 7, federal agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet who was a U.S. citizen. Videos of the event spread quickly online. Then, on a Saturday in late January, Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, another 37-year-old U.S. citizen and a nurse. More videos captured that incident too.

Protests broke out across Minnesota. Thousands of people took to the streets, mourning the deaths and pushing back against the federal presence. The outcry grew so loud that President Trump sent Tom Homan to the state. Homan, who once led ICE removal operations under President Obama and acted as ICE director in Trump's first term, arrived amid the chaos.

Trump posted on social media about sending Homan, saying he knew people in the area and would report straight to him. The president also said he talked with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, and that the call went well. Trump claimed Walz was happy about Homan's trip.

Homan got to work right away. He met with state and local officials, including Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Frey had opposed the operation from the start. These meetings led to changes, like better access for federal agents to local jails to pick up people before release.

Key Details

Homan made the end-of-surge announcement on Thursday, February 12, at a news conference in Minneapolis. He said a drawdown was already happening that week and would continue into the next.

"I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude," Homan said.

He pointed to better teamwork with state and local law enforcement as the main reason. Now, more arrests happen at jails instead of on streets. Local agencies are also quicker to handle protests. Homan called this an unprecedented level of coordination.

Arrest Numbers and Changes

During the two months, agents made thousands of arrests. Homan said they targeted criminals and public safety threats. He reported a drop in activity from groups he called unlawful agitators. On February 4, Homan had already pulled back 700 agents, saying more would go if cooperation kept up. By Thursday, he confirmed the rest would head home soon.

A small group of personnel will stay in Minnesota. Their job is to close out the operation and hand control back to the regular field office. Homan plans to stick around in Minneapolis to oversee this.

He praised Governor Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison for their support, even if they don't agree on everything. Walz had criticized other Trump officials earlier, like DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, for not talking things out.

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division is looking into Pretti's death but not Good's. Homan did not name the two women in his news conference. He said he prays for the safety of law enforcement and community members, legal or not, and that lawbreakers will face arrest.

Local Reactions

Governor Walz posted on X after the announcement that recovery would take time. He said the operation hurt the economy, schools, and daily life for many. In a news conference, Walz noted the trauma felt by immigrants and all Minnesotans alike. He supports targeted enforcement but said nothing has changed in Minnesota's approach.

Mayor Frey called it a victory for the city. He had fought the surge from day one.

What This Means

The drawdown eases the heavy federal presence that overwhelmed Minneapolis neighborhoods. Families and businesses can start to return to normal without large numbers of agents patrolling streets. Schools and the economy, hit hard by fear and protests, may slowly recover as people feel safer going out.

Immigration enforcement does not stop. The small remaining force ensures ongoing work, like detentions at jails. Homan stressed that President Trump's promises on border security continue nationwide. Minnesota's regular ICE office takes back full control soon.

Talks between federal and local leaders set a model for other places. Better jail access and protest handling could speed up arrests elsewhere without big street operations. For the victims' families and protesters, the end brings some relief, but questions linger over the shootings and federal tactics.

Walz sees it as the administration saving face after the deaths forced their hand. Homan frames it as success, with Minnesota safer now. Both sides note the improved dialogue, which could shape future enforcement in Democrat-led states.

Protests have quieted with fewer agents and quicker local responses. Arrests shifted from high-visibility street actions to quieter jail pickups. This change reduces clashes but keeps pressure on undocumented people facing release.

Congressional Democrats had threatened to block DHS funding over the incidents, raising shutdown risks. The surge's end might cool that push. Homan's praise for Walz and Frey highlights rare bipartisanship on a hot issue.

The operation's legacy includes thousands detained, two lives lost, and a state on edge. A small ICE team stays to tie up loose ends, watching as Minneapolis breathes easier.