U.S. President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan announced that a major immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota is being scaled back, stating he proposed ending the operation and that the president agreed.
Under “Operation Metro Surge,” roughly 3,000 armed agents were deployed by late January to carry out deportations across the state. The operation triggered protests in Minneapolis, where residents demonstrated against masked agents in tactical gear. During the enforcement actions, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by immigration agents.
Border Czar Tom Homan speaks during a press conference at U.S. General Service Administration building in Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. February 4, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Homan said about 700 agents had already been withdrawn and that many of the remaining personnel deployed from other states would return home in the coming week. Before the surge, approximately 150 immigration agents operated in Minnesota.
The operation faced strong opposition from Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Frey, who joined legal efforts challenging the deployment, described the increased federal presence as catastrophic and welcomed the drawdown.
The chief federal judge in Minnesota previously reprimanded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly defying court orders to release wrongly detained migrants.
Criticism also emerged from within Trump’s own party. Senator Rand Paul questioned administration rhetoric surrounding the fatal shootings, after officials including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially referred to the deceased Americans as “domestic terrorists.”
Homan cited improved coordination with local law enforcement as one reason for ending the surge, marking a significant shift in federal enforcement posture in the state.
