(C) EURO News.com
MINNEAPOLIS – Facing a wave of national indignation and a sharp decline in public support, the Trump administration officially announced the termination of its large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota on Thursday.
Tom Homan, the administration’s "Border Czar" and lead architect of the enforcement surge, confirmed during a press conference in Minneapolis that the controversial "Operation Metro Surge" has concluded.
"Through our efforts, Minnesota is no longer the 'sanctuary' for criminals it once was," Homan stated, adding that he had recommended the withdrawal to President Trump, who subsequently approved the move. Federal agents began a significant drawdown this week, with the remaining personnel expected to depart by the end of next week.
A Deadly Turn for ‘Operation Metro Surge’
Launched last December, the operation deployed approximately 3,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in what the Department of Homeland Security described as the "largest immigration enforcement operation in history."
However, the aggressive tactics employed by federal agents quickly drew fire. Tensions reached a breaking point last month following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preti, by enforcement officers during a raid. The incident sparked nationwide protests and forced the administration to dispatch Homan to the region in late January to manage the growing crisis.
Shifting Public Sentiment
The decision to retreat marks a significant policy setback for the administration. A recent poll conducted by AP-NORC between February 5 and 8 revealed that roughly 60% of American adults believe the deployment of federal agents to cities has "gone too far."
The operation resulted in over 4,000 arrests, but critics argue the human and social costs far outweighed the enforcement gains.
State Leadership Remains Defiant
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz welcomed the cessation of federal activity but remained scathing in his assessment of the administration's conduct.
"I will not be thanking Trump administration officials for ending an attack on our state that was unnecessary, unjust, and unconstitutional," Walz said in a statement. He urged residents to remain vigilant during the final days of the federal withdrawal.
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