Tom Homan Announces Drawdown of Federal Immigration Agents After Weeks of ICE Activity in Minneapolis
Federal immigration operation begins scaling back in the Twin Cities
White House border enforcement chief Tom Homan said federal immigration and border personnel are leaving the Minneapolis–St. Paul area following weeks of heightened enforcement activity that brought thousands of federal agents into Minnesota. The pullback marks a shift from what federal officials described as an intensive surge posture toward a smaller footprint, while maintaining some ongoing federal presence tied to enforcement and security needs.
Homan’s remarks follow a period of sustained public scrutiny and political conflict over “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal deployment that began in December 2025 and expanded the Department of Homeland Security presence far beyond typical staffing levels for the Twin Cities. Federal personnel involved included Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection components.
Why the drawdown is happening now
Federal officials have pointed to operational and safety considerations as key factors behind the reduction in forces. Homan has said the surge has already produced significant numbers of immigration arrests and removals, and that reduced demand for rapid-response security teams has made a continued large-scale deployment less necessary.
Homan also indicated that a limited number of personnel would remain temporarily in Minnesota to manage residual security risks, support transitions back to standard field operations, and address investigations that were initiated during the surge.
Deaths during enforcement intensify scrutiny
The drawdown comes after two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during incidents involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January. Renée Good was fatally shot on January 7, 2026, during an encounter involving an ICE officer. Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was fatally shot on January 24, 2026, during an incident involving border enforcement personnel. Both cases have driven public protests and demands for fuller accounting of the circumstances surrounding use-of-force decisions.
Federal authorities have said investigations are ongoing, and the events have become central to broader questions about tactics, accountability, and transparency in immigration enforcement operations carried out away from the U.S. border.
State and city officials challenge the surge in court
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, joined by the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, filed a federal lawsuit on January 12, 2026, seeking to halt the surge deployment and arguing it was unlawful on constitutional and administrative grounds. A federal court later declined to issue an injunction blocking the operation, while also noting the plaintiffs’ evidence of harm associated with the scale and conduct of the deployment.
What happens next
Most surge-deployed agents are expected to return to their home stations or be reassigned to other enforcement priorities.
A smaller contingent is expected to remain temporarily for security and transition functions.
Legal challenges and investigations connected to the surge and use-of-force incidents are continuing.
The shift away from surge staffing signals an operational reset in Minnesota, while leaving unresolved questions about oversight, enforcement standards, and the long-term role of federal immigration agencies in the Twin Cities.