The Trump administration has begun scaling back a significant federal immigration enforcement deployment in Minnesota, marking what officials describe as a tactical shift rather than a reversal of border policy.
The decision follows weeks of protests, economic strain in parts of the Twin Cities, and intensified negotiations with state and local authorities over cooperation with federal immigration officials.
Border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday that 700 federal law enforcement personnel will be withdrawn from the state, reducing the federal presence to roughly 2,000 officers.
The surge had dramatically expanded enforcement from approximately 150 agents operating in Minnesota before the operation began.
Homan emphasized that the reduction reflects improved coordination, not a slowdown in enforcement priorities.
According to Homan, the drawdown was made possible by what he called “unprecedented cooperation” from county governments, particularly agreements allowing local jails to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before releasing inmates subject to deportation.
He said this approach enables federal agents to assume custody in secure environments rather than conducting broader arrests in residential neighborhoods.
“My goal, with the support of President Trump, is to achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge as soon as we can,” Homan said during a press conference in Minneapolis.
He cautioned, however, that any further reductions depend on an end to threats, obstruction, and violence directed at ICE officers and their federal partners.
Agents assigned to security and hostile-incident response will remain in place.
The federal operation, known as Operation Metro Surge, intensified after violent confrontations between federal agents and organized anti-ICE protesters, including the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during unrest in Minneapolis last month.
Resist the Mainstream reported on Sunday that a federal judge recently lifted a temporary restraining order related to the investigation, even as Democratic lawmakers continue to accuse the administration of misconduct.
Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell acknowledged earlier that discussions with federal officials were underway but said details of any drawdown remained unclear at the time.
Schnell voiced concerns about reports of agents appearing at bus stops and apartment complexes without clearly defined targets, urging enforcement efforts to focus on individuals who pose public safety threats, Trending Politics reported.
Local officials have also cited economic consequences tied to the surge.
Leaders in Brooklyn Park said heightened enforcement activity kept residents indoors and reduced foot traffic, with some businesses reporting revenue losses as high as 50 percent.
Homan disputed claims that the operation caused unnecessary harm, arguing that removing criminal illegal aliens improves long-term community safety.
Homan rejected suggestions that the administration is retreating from its immigration agenda, reiterating that mass deportations remain a priority under President Donald Trump.
He argued that cooperation from jurisdictions often labeled “sanctuary” allows ICE to safely take custody of criminal offenders directly from jails, reducing the need for more dangerous street arrests.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the drawdown as a step toward de-escalation but called for faster reductions and additional investigations into recent fatal encounters involving federal agents.
Walz said progress had been made while insisting that further action is necessary to restore calm in the region, according to Fox News.
Despite the partial withdrawal, Homan made clear that federal authorities are not leaving Minnesota anytime soon.
He said future decisions will depend on continued cooperation from state and local governments and conditions on the ground, signaling that immigration enforcement efforts will remain active as the administration presses forward with its border security priorities.
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