WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s high-profile immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge, is being formally concluded following a personal approval from the President. Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, announced the operational drawdown during a press briefing on Thursday.
Homan stated that he will remain in the state to personally oversee the transition, ensuring a successful conclusion to the controversial initiative. The operation, which deployed over 2,000 federal immigration officers to Minnesota, had ignited nationwide protests last month following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents.
The border official hailed the operation as a ‘great success,’ crediting increased cooperation from local Minnesota officials for transforming the state into ‘less of a sanctuary state.’ Homan reported that this collaboration enabled authorities to ‘greatly reduce the number of targets’ for enforcement actions.
Highlighting specific enforcement outcomes, Homan pointed to the arrest of numerous undocumented immigrants, whom he classified as ‘illegal aliens.’ Among those apprehended were individuals convicted of serious crimes, including rape and other sexual misconduct offenses.
While the surge is ending, Homan emphasized that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will maintain a permanent presence in Minnesota. ‘A small footprint of personnel will remain for a period of time to close out and transition full command and control back to the field office,’ he explained, indicating a return to standard operational procedures rather than a complete withdrawal of federal immigration enforcement from the region.