The Trump administration has announced a significant reduction of federal immigration personnel in Minneapolis, withdrawing approximately 700 agents from the controversial “Operation Metro Surge” enforcement initiative. The operation, which began in December, has faced substantial public scrutiny following the fatal shootings of two American citizens and widespread protests across the nation.
Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, confirmed Wednesday that the drawdown would commence immediately and affect personnel from both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. While 2,000 agents will remain stationed in the area, Homan stated the ultimate objective is to return the federal immigration presence to pre-operation levels.
In a notable policy shift, Homan revealed that the government is prioritizing the equipping of all Minneapolis-based officers with body-worn cameras, with plans to eventually expand this equipment deployment to federal agents nationwide. Despite the operational changes, Homan characterized the Minneapolis initiative as successful during his press briefing, acknowledging however that it was “not a perfect operation.”
The operation has resulted in numerous arrests, including 14 homicide suspects, 139 assault charges, 87 registered sex offenders, and 28 alleged gang members, though these figures remain unverified by independent sources. Homan assumed control of the operation in late January, having previously indicated that agent levels would be adjusted based on the degree of cooperation from state and local authorities. He cited “unprecedented” cooperation from local entities as the rationale behind the current reduction of approximately one-third of federal personnel.