Border Czar Tom Homan stepped up to the podium Thursday morning and made it official, Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota is coming to an end. After weeks of heightened immigration enforcement across the state, Homan said he proposed wrapping up the operation and President Trump agreed.
“I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said during the press conference. He pointed to the arrests of “public safety threats” and emphasized the coordination ICE achieved with state and local officials.
That word, coordination, matters. One of the biggest criticisms of federal immigration crackdowns in blue states has been the lack of cooperation from local leaders. Homan, however, touted what he called “unprecedented levels of coordination” with Minnesota officials. According to him, that cooperation helped ICE target violent offenders and other priority cases rather than conducting random sweeps.
A “significant drawdown” of federal immigration agents is already underway and will continue into next week. But this is not a total exit. Homan made clear that a smaller, strategic footprint will remain in place. Certain officers will stay in key areas to work directly with local sheriffs and help transition command back to the local field office. He also noted the need to ensure that “agitator activity” does not flare back up.
The surge operation began less than three weeks ago after President Trump deployed Homan to Minnesota to oversee the mission, replacing Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. The move followed a series of tragic incidents in January, including the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both U.S. citizens, during separate altercations involving federal agents. Two agents involved in Pretti’s death were placed on administrative leave, and the White House faced intense backlash, especially in Minneapolis.
In response to the public outcry, the administration had already announced a 25 percent reduction in immigration officers in the state. Homan framed the broader drawdown as a sign of success, not retreat. From his perspective, the mission was to stabilize the situation, remove violent undocumented individuals, and restore order. Now, he argues, that objective has largely been achieved.
During the press conference, Homan also revealed how many missing children were located and saved during ICE operations in Minnesota, highlighting another dimension of the enforcement effort that often gets overshadowed in the political shouting.
Critics will say the surge was heavy handed. Supporters will argue it was necessary to reassert the rule of law and protect communities. What is clear is that the administration wanted a decisive show of force, followed by a structured wind down once key targets were apprehended.
Whether Minnesota sees lasting changes from Operation Metro Surge remains to be seen. But for now, the federal presence is shrinking, and Homan is calling it a win.
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