Trump Administration Says Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota Is Ending After Controversial Surge
MINNEAPOLIS / WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has announced the end of its controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota, bringing a high-profile federal enforcement operation to a close after weeks of protest and national scrutiny.
Border czar Tom Homan confirmed on Thursday that the federal government will conclude what it called “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign that began in December 2025 and deployed thousands of agents across the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and beyond. Homan said President Donald Trump concurred with the decision to wind down the operation and begin withdrawing officers.
The operation, described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as its “largest immigration enforcement operation ever,” resulted in more than 4,000 arrests of individuals the administration characterized as “dangerous criminal illegal aliens.” Federal authorities have said cooperation with local law enforcement contributed to the decision to reduce the federal presence.
However, the campaign also sparked widespread protests and backlash, particularly after two U.S. citizens — Renée Good and Alex Pretti — were fatally shot by immigration agents during confrontations. The deaths and the broad scope of the enforcement action drew sharp criticism from civil rights advocates, local leaders and many Minnesota residents who said the surge targeted immigrant communities and people with no criminal records.
Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz, had been pressing for an end to the deployment, describing the large influx of federal officers as disruptive to communities and local economies. Walz said in recent days that discussions with administration officials indicated the crackdown would be winding down “in days, not weeks and months.”
While Homan said the surge will conclude and federal agents will begin returning to their regular duties or be reassigned elsewhere, he also emphasized that immigration enforcement will continue nationwide under the Trump administration’s broader deportation agenda.
Activists and community leaders welcomed the announcement but stressed that accountability for the operation’s impact — including the deaths and mass detentions — remains a priority for many residents and civil rights advocates in Minnesota.
The operation’s end marks a significant moment in the ongoing U.S. debate over immigration policy, federal authority, and the balance between enforcement and civil liberties.
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