ICE and CBP leaders testify as Congress scrutinizes Operation Metro Surge and Minneapolis shootings fallout
Federal immigration leaders face House questioning after deaths of two Minneapolis protesters
Senior officials leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appeared before the House Committee on Homeland Security on Tuesday, as lawmakers intensified oversight of a large federal immigration enforcement deployment in Minneapolis that began in late 2025.
The hearing follows two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during separate confrontations involving federal immigration personnel in Minneapolis: Renée Good was shot and killed on Jan. 7, 2026, and Alex Pretti was fatally shot on Jan. 24, 2026. The deaths have prompted bipartisan calls for an independent investigation and fueled renewed debate over training, use-of-force standards, and operational controls for federal immigration personnel operating in U.S. cities.
What Operation Metro Surge is, and how the federal footprint changed
The Minneapolis deployment has been publicly identified as “Operation Metro Surge.” Federal officials have described it as a major operation involving thousands of personnel from immigration and border agencies. After weeks of protests and escalating political backlash, the White House border coordinator, Tom Homan, announced on Feb. 4, 2026, that 700 officers and agents would leave the Minneapolis area immediately.
Even with that reduction, the federal presence described by the administration remained far above pre-surge levels, with the operation’s staffing still numbering in the thousands. Local and state leaders have argued that the scale and tactics of the deployment have strained emergency response resources and affected daily life for residents and businesses.
Congress focuses on masks, body cameras, warrants and independent review
In congressional negotiations tied to Department of Homeland Security funding, Democratic lawmakers have pressed for new conditions on immigration enforcement operations. Proposals discussed in connection with the hearing include tighter rules around warrant use, requirements for body-worn cameras, limits on agents operating in masks, and stronger mechanisms for independent investigations when misconduct is alleged.
In Minneapolis, DHS leadership has said body cameras would be deployed to officers in the field, while also signaling broader expansion dependent on available funding. Committee members also indicated they would seek detailed answers on operational planning, training and accountability measures following the two deaths.
Minnesota lawsuit and disputes over federal authority
On Jan. 12, 2026, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison—joined by the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul—filed a federal lawsuit seeking to end the surge and alleging constitutional and administrative-law violations. The suit argues that enforcement actions and crowd-control measures during the operation infringed on civil liberties and exceeded lawful bounds.
Separately, members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation have raised concerns about access and oversight related to immigration detention operations in Minneapolis. In early February, two U.S. representatives said they were denied entry to an ICE holding facility at the Whipple Federal Building, citing their responsibility to conduct oversight of conditions and treatment.
Key unresolved issues include the circumstances of the Jan. 7 and Jan. 24 shootings, and whether operational rules were followed.
Lawmakers are weighing whether DHS funding should be conditioned on changes to field practices.
Court action in Minnesota could shape how far federal agencies can expand similar city-focused deployments.
Congressional oversight, funding negotiations and active litigation are converging on the same question: what legal and operational limits should govern large-scale immigration enforcement inside U.S. cities.