- Tom Homan confirmed that the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota would be scaled back after weeks of protests
- The operations sparked outrage following two fatal shootings and allegations of excessive enforcement tactics
- More than 200 people were arrested for interfering with officers, while immigration enforcement was set to continue elsewhere in the US
President Donald Trump’s lead immigration official, Tom Homan, has announced the end of aggressive federal immigration operations in Minnesota following weeks of protests and mounting public criticism.
Speaking at a briefing outside Minneapolis on Thursday, Homan confirmed that the surge of federal agents deployed to the state would be scaled back.
“I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said. “A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue through the next week.”
In recent weeks, thousands of federal agents — including officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — conducted sweeping raids and arrests across parts of Minnesota. The administration described the operations as targeted missions aimed at apprehending individuals involved in criminal activity and immigration violations.
However, the crackdown triggered tense demonstrations in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, particularly following the fatal shootings of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, less than three weeks apart last month. The deaths intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics and fuelled nationwide outrage.
Daily footage circulating online showed masked federal agents carrying out arrests, while multiple reports alleged that some individuals were detained on limited or questionable evidence. The case of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained on 20 January, further heightened public anger and drew criticism from civil rights advocates.
Homan indicated that federal officers currently assigned to Minnesota would either return to their home stations or be redeployed elsewhere in the country, though he did not specify which locations might see increased enforcement next.
“In the next week, we’re going to deploy the officers here on detail back to their home stations or other areas of the country where they are needed. But we’re going to continue to enforce immigration law,” he said.
Immigration enforcement was a central pillar of Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign. However, critics argue that the Minnesota operations have contributed to a decline in the president’s approval ratings, particularly amid allegations of excessive force and civil liberties concerns.
Following the killings of Good and Pretti, Trump replaced Customs and Border Protection commander Gregory Bovino with Homan, who sought to engage with local Democratic leaders in an effort to ease tensions.
Minneapolis is a Democratic-led “sanctuary” city, where local law enforcement agencies do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Opposition Democrats have since called for sweeping reforms to ICE, including banning mobile patrols, prohibiting agents from concealing their identities, and mandating warrants for certain enforcement actions.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security faces the possibility of a funding shortfall if negotiations in Washington fail. While ICE and Customs and Border Protection could continue operating under previously approved funds, other sub-agencies — including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — may be affected.
Homan confirmed that some officers would remain in Minnesota but did not provide specific figures. He stated that more than 200 individuals had been arrested for interfering with federal officers during the operation, though he declined to estimate the total number of immigration-related arrests and deportations.
“The Twin Cities, Minnesota in general, are and will continue to be much safer for the communities here because of what we have accomplished under President Trump’s leadership,” Homan said.
The decision to scale back the operation marks a significant shift in the administration’s enforcement strategy in Minnesota, though officials insist immigration law enforcement will continue elsewhere across the United States.
Trump administration directs ICE to locate, deport unaccompanied migrant children
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Trump administration directed the internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up efforts to deport unaccompanied migrant children who entered the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian.
The initiative marked an expansion of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.