The U.S. government announced Wednesday that it will immediately withdraw 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota, scaling back a controversial enforcement operation that had sparked intense social and political backlash.
The decision was announced by Tom Homan, the White House’s border czar, who said the drawdown reflects increased cooperation between federal authorities and state and local officials. That cooperation includes agreements requiring local jails to notify federal agents when people without legal immigration status are arrested for crimes within the local justice system.
You might be interested in: California Senate Passes ‘No Kings Act,’ Allowing Lawsuits Against ICE
Despite the reduction, roughly 2,000 federal agents will remain deployed in the region, a figure far higher than the typical presence prior to “Operation Metro Surge,” which significantly expanded immigration enforcement activities beginning in December 2025.
The operation in Minneapolis drew international attention after two U.S. citizens were killed during federal immigration raids and confrontations, triggering widespread protests and renewed scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics.
Related: “We Are Not That Nation”: Biden Says ICE Shootings in Minnesota Betray American Values
The deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti became flashpoints for local and national opposition to the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol, fueling public demands for the operation to be reevaluated or brought to an end.
