White House “border czar” Tom Homan speaks during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on February 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
John Moorgetti Images
Border czar Tom Homan said Thursday that President Donald Trump has agreed to his proposal to end a months-long surge in federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
Homan said at a news conference that the influx of thousands of agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection has “significantly reduced the number of targets for enforcement actions” in the Twin Cities region.
Homan announced last week that he would cut 700 employees from the area, which includes Minneapolis and St. Paul, a reduction of about 25% and still leaves about 2,000 employees.
He said Thursday morning in Minneapolis that a complete withdrawal “will continue into next week.”
Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge less than three weeks after President Trump sent him to Minnesota to carry out extensive deportation missions to replace Border Patrol Battalion Commander Gregory Bovino.
The upheaval followed the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Preti, who were shot and killed by federal agents during separate altercations in January.
The killings greatly inflamed tensions over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, sparking widespread protests and rapidly deteriorating public opinion against ICE.
In a press briefing Thursday, Homan touted the recent easing of tensions and credited improved cooperation between the federal government and state and local leaders since taking office.
“We’ve seen a big change in the last few weeks,” he said.
“Given that, and the progress we have made in deterring public safety threats and other priorities since the beginning of this operation, and the unprecedented level of coordination we have received from state and local law enforcement, I have proposed, and President Trump has agreed, to end this operation,” Homan said.
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