On Feb. 12, White House Border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the Trump administration’s immigration operation in Minnesota. The two-month-long immigration crackdown has resulted in thousands of arrests, mass demonstrations, and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizen activists.
"I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan shared in a press conference. “A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue through the next week.”
Homan deemed the operation a success, revealing that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) procedure, which operated within the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, resulted in more than 4,000 arrests.
“The surge is leaving Minnesota safer,” Homan said. “I’ll say it again, it’s less of a sanctuary state for criminals.”
Homan assured that he will remain in the state to supervise the withdrawal, which he expressed was possible due to the “unprecedented” cooperation between federal and local lawmakers that gave immigration agents access to local jails.
The crackdown, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deemed the “largest immigration enforcement operation ever,” has been a significant source of debate over the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts.
Gov. Tim Walz responded to the announcement by stating, "Over the past six weeks, the state of Minnesota and the people of this state have endured an unprecedented federal invasion.” “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma, they left us with economic ruin, they left us with many unanswered questions," Walz added.
The withdrawal comes as the Senate failed to move forward with a spending bill for DHS, leading to a shutdown of the agency, as lawmakers continue at a stalemate over potential reforms. Concurrently, federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill are questioning immigration officials over the Minnesota operation and the tactics of federal immigration officers.
“They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote on social media. “These patriots of Minneapolis are showing that it’s not just about resistance — standing with our neighbors is deeply American.”
