Homan says Minneapolis immigration enforcement surge is ending as federal presence drops to 150 agents

Federal drawdown follows weeks of intensified operations and public scrutiny in the Twin Cities

White House border czar Tom Homan said the federal “immigration surge” in Minneapolis is over and that the operational footprint is expected to return to roughly 150 immigration agents within a week. Homan said a limited security element may remain temporarily to support federal officers if demonstrations or confrontations escalate, and he said personnel assigned to certain investigations will stay until those cases are complete.

The announcement marks the latest reduction in a months-long buildup of federal immigration resources in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area under an enforcement effort referred to by federal officials as “Operation Metro Surge.” In early February, Homan had publicly described an initial drawdown of hundreds of officers, with additional departures expected as the operation wound down.

What changes immediately, and what may continue

Homan’s latest timetable points to a rapid shift back to what he characterized as a “regular footprint.” He also indicated that two functions could keep federal personnel on the ground beyond the drawdown:

• Security teams tasked with protecting federal agents and responding to volatile incidents during operations or protests.
• Investigative teams assigned to ongoing cases, including investigations tied to alleged fraud matters referenced by federal officials.

While the drawdown language suggests a return toward routine staffing levels, it does not signal an end to immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota. Homan has repeatedly described the redeployment as a reallocation of personnel rather than a halt of enforcement, with agents returning to home stations or reassigned elsewhere.

Context: escalation, fatalities, and demands for accountability

The federal pullback comes after intense public backlash tied to enforcement encounters in Minneapolis, including two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during the surge period. The deaths, both captured in widely circulated video, prompted demonstrations and calls for independent investigations and clearer rules governing federal operations in densely populated neighborhoods.

State-level officials have also raised concerns about coordination and transparency, saying local and state law enforcement were not consistently briefed on targets or operational plans and were later drawn into crisis responses. Separately, disputes have surfaced over whether any formal agreement exists to expand cooperation between federal immigration authorities and Minnesota’s county jails; state officials have publicly contested assertions that such a statewide agreement was reached.

What to watch next

The pace and completeness of the drawdown will likely be measured against on-the-ground staffing levels in coming days, as well as the continued presence of security teams and investigators. The longer-term political and legal consequences may hinge on the outcomes of investigations into the shootings, the degree of federal-state cooperation going forward, and whether future enforcement surges are attempted in the Twin Cities under similar conditions.

Homan said the surge is “over” and that the federal footprint is expected to return to about 150 agents within a week, with limited exceptions for security and investigations.