Border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday that the Trump administration is withdrawing approximately 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota, citing what he described as unprecedented cooperation from state and local officials during ongoing enforcement operations.
Homan made the announcement during a press conference in Minneapolis, where he provided an update on Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement effort launched by the Trump administration that has drawn protests and public backlash in recent weeks.
According to Homan, the reduction represents roughly a 26 percent drawdown in federal personnel assigned to the state. About 2,000 agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will remain in Minnesota for now.
Homan said President Donald Trump directed him to travel to Minnesota to help de-escalate tensions surrounding the operation and to improve coordination with local officials.
He said the decision to reduce the federal presence followed productive discussions with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as well as increased cooperation that has enabled ICE agents to safely access local jails and transfer individuals into federal custody.
Homan said the operation’s target list has also shrunk as a result of successful arrests of high-risk individuals. He stated that the administration’s goal is to conclude Operation Metro Surge and return Minnesota’s federal immigration staffing to its pre-operation level of roughly 150 agents, though the timeline will depend on continued cooperation and a reduction in threats or disruptions tied to protests.
He also said the Department of Homeland Security has implemented a unified chain of command for the operation at his recommendation.
Addressing speculation that the administration was scaling back its broader immigration agenda, Homan rejected those claims, describing the agent reduction as a shift toward more efficient enforcement rather than a retreat.
“President Trump fully intends to achieve mass deportations during this administration, and immigration enforcement actions will continue every day throughout this country,” Homan said, adding that the administration had not changed its enforcement priorities.
Homan said Operation Metro Surge has resulted in the arrest of individuals with serious criminal histories, including 14 people convicted of homicide, 139 convicted of assault, 87 convicted of sexual offenses, and 28 identified gang members.
Federal officials said the operation remains active, and that additional adjustments will be made based on conditions on the ground and cooperation from local jurisdictions.
