WASHINGTON / MINNEAPOLIS — The Trump administration has announced the immediate withdrawal of approximately 700 federal immigration enforcement officers from Minnesota as part of a recalibration of its ongoing enforcement operations in the state, officials said on Wednesday. The reduction — amounting to roughly a quarter of federal agents deployed there — comes amid escalating controversy, political pressure, and negotiations with local authorities over immigration enforcement tactics.
Sharp Drawdown in Federal Presence
Border enforcement “czar” Tom Homan, speaking at a news conference in Minneapolis, confirmed that around 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents currently operating in Minnesota will be withdrawn “effective immediately.” While the officers are departing, about 2,000 federal agents will remain in the state, significantly above pre-surge levels, according to federal officials.
Homan described the reduction as a response to what he characterised as “unprecedented cooperation” from some state and local law enforcement partners who have agreed to notify federal authorities when detained immigrants are released, enabling expedited custody transfers and reducing the need for street patrols.
Context: Operation Metro Surge and Rising Tensions
The agent deployment in Minnesota is part of Operation Metro Surge, a broader interior immigration enforcement campaign launched by the Trump administration in late 2025 to target undocumented immigrants across U.S. cities outside traditional border zones. The operation has been the largest domestic immigration enforcement initiative in years, drawing thousands of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other Department of Homeland Security components.
The surge sparked intense controversy and community resistance in Minnesota, particularly in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, where federal agents undertook aggressive searches, arrests, and checkpoints. The operation was linked to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, including Renée Good and Alex Pretti, heightening public scrutiny and prompting protests, lawsuits and a statewide general strike in late January 2026.
Administration’s Rationale and Federal Position
According to Homan, the reduction in personnel does not signal a retreat from immigration enforcement objectives but instead reflects a more “smart and effective” approach to operations. He said that improved cooperation with select county jails in Minnesota — where sheriffs alert federal authorities when individuals meeting immigration enforcement criteria are released — has reduced the need for a heavy federal street presence.
“We’re not surrendering our mission,” Homan told reporters, emphasising that federal authorities will continue enforcement actions, including deportations and arrests of individuals deemed public safety risks.
Continued Federal Presence Amid Local Resistance
Despite the pullback of 700 agents, many federal officers will remain deployed throughout Minnesota. The administration has stressed that the operation’s core objectives will continue, including targeting undocumented immigrants who have criminal convictions and resisting what federal officials have labelled “sanctuary jurisdiction” policies that limit local cooperation with ICE.
Minnesota’s Democratic-led state government, including Governor Tim Walz, has been critical of the federal operation. Local leaders have warned that the federal crackdown has sown fear among immigrant communities, disrupted daily life, and strained relationships between residents and law enforcement.
Reactions from State and Community Leaders
Governor Walz has welcomed the reduction as a step toward easing tensions — but he and other state officials have insisted that further reductions and reforms are necessary for restoring public trust and community safety. Local officials have also pressed for transparency and accountability concerning the deaths of two civilians in confrontations with federal agents.
Opposition voices — including immigrant rights advocates and civil liberties groups — argue that broad federal immigration operations erode local trust and divert resources away from community policing. Many have called for a complete end to mass interior enforcement actions, framing the reduction as only a partial concession.
Broader National Implications
The Minnesota drawdown comes amid a national debate over the scope of federal immigration enforcement and the balance between national policy and local autonomy. The operation has already intersected with broader political fissures, including protests in other states and federal court challenges to enforcement practices.
As the federal government scales back the force footprint in Minnesota, both federal and state officials will be watched closely for how they navigate the future of immigration enforcement, community relations and public safety priorities in one of the most contentious theatres of U.S. domestic policy.
7 years in the field, from local radio to digital newsrooms. Loves chasing the stories that matter to everyday Aussies – whether it’s climate, cost of living or the next big thing in tech.
