The Trump administration will pull 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota, scaling back the deployment tied to Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, which has sparked national attention following the deaths of two U.S. citizens and widespread protests.
Tom Homan, the administration’s federal immigration coordinator, said on Wednesday that the reduction will start immediately and involves agents from ICE and Border Patrol, while roughly 2,000 officers will remain in the state. He added that the goal is to return the federal presence to levels seen before the operation began in December.
Homan highlighted that all officers in Minnesota will now be equipped with body-worn cameras, a priority for the government, and plans are in place to expand this across federal agents nationwide.
Speaking at a press conference, Homan described the Minneapolis operation as a success, despite the challenges and the fatalities of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He noted that the operation has become more organized under a unified command structure.
The federal agency has focused on detaining individuals charged with serious crimes, including homicide, assault, sexual offenses, and gang activity, though the government did not provide independent verification of these figures.
Homan explained that the drawdown of agents follows increased cooperation from local and state authorities, which has allowed federal personnel to operate more efficiently. He described the reduction as roughly one-third of the federal workforce in the state, while enforcement efforts will continue with the remaining staff.