White House Border Czar Tom Homan, who deployed to Minneapolis last month at President Trump's request to oversee immigration and deportation efforts in the sanctuary city, made a big announcement at his Thursday morning press conference: Operation Metro Surge is coming to an end.
"I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude," Homan said. "A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue into next week." The reason operations are starting to wind down, he continued, was due to the "unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement."
Homan also revealed there had recently been a "notable decrease in unlawful agitator activity" across the state, with upwards of 200 protesters being arrested for various "violations."
.@RealTomHoman in MN: "With that success that has been made arresting public safety threats and... unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials & local law enforcement, I have proposed, and @POTUS has concurred, that this surge operation conclude." pic.twitter.com/arbE90D2s1
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 12, 2026
Operation Metro Surge was launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in early December to counter efforts by Minnesota's Democrat leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, to make the area a sanctuary for all illegal aliens, including those with criminal records.
SEE ALSO: Homan Nukes ‘ICE Retreat’ Narrative With 700-Agent Drawdown Announcement
“Sanctuary policies and politicians like Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey allowed these pedophiles, domestic terrorists, and gang members to roam the streets and terrorize Americans,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin at the start of the operation. “ICE law enforcement are risking their lives to protect Minnesotans while their own elected officials sit by and do nothing. No matter when and where, ICE will find, arrest, and deport ALL criminal illegal aliens.”
Homan announced last week that a "drawdown" of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from the area had already begun. From RedState's reporting:
According to Homan, 700 agents will be leaving Minneapolis "effective immediately." The move, he said, is far from being a "surrender" by the Trump administration on deportation efforts, but is instead the result of "unprecedented cooperation" between federal agencies and local officials. Specifically, Homan pointed to the increasingly open dialogues with the offices of Mayor Jacob Frey (D), Governor Tim Walz (D), and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).
At his Thursday presser, Homan was sure to reiterate that the decreased presence of federal immigration officials in the Twin Cities area was not a sign the Trump administration was backing off its deportation efforts. “For those who say we are backing down from immigration enforcement or the promise of mass deportations, you are simply wrong,” he said.
.@RealTomHoman: "I'll say it again: President Trump made a promise of mass deportations and that's what this country is going to get — but it's smart law enforcement to do targeted enforcement operations." pic.twitter.com/SXTxP8olP0
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 12, 2026
Homan also had message for Congress and politicians who favor harboring illegals: take action on sanctuary cities because "[r]eleasing public safety threats back into the public is just stupid."
.@RealTomHoman: "It shouldn't be a partisan issue that you arrest public safety threats in the safety and security of a jail. Releasing public safety threats back into the public is just stupid... I hope Congress takes action on sanctuary cities and sanctuary states." pic.twitter.com/dPaw2HPKaH
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 12, 2026
Some more good news from the Thursday presser: Homan revealed that "3,364 missing unaccompanied alien children" in Minnesota had been located by ICE. These were children, he noted, "that the last Administration lost and weren't even looking for."
The withdrawal of federal officers from the area is expected to continue into next week, with a “small footprint” of personnel remaining for an undetermined period of time as enforcement activities transition back to the local field office.
Editor’s Note: ICE and CBP continue to put themselves in harm's way in order to protect America’s sovereignty and to keep our streets safe.
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