‘I Proposed, President Concurred’: Trump To End Minnesota Immigration Crackdown, Says Border Czar

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 02:21 IST

Trump administration begins pulling federal agents out of Minnesota following sweeping raids that sparked demonstrations and criticism.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has announced it will wind down a controversial immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, weeks after sweeping federal raids triggered protests and political backlash following the killing of two US citizens.

President Trump’s border pointman Tom Homan confirmed the decision on Thursday, speaking outside Minneapolis.

“I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude," Homan said, according to AFP. “A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue through the next week."

The operation saw thousands of federal agents, including officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, conduct raids and arrests across parts of Minnesota. The administration maintained that the missions were targeted at criminal suspects. However, daily videos showing masked agents detaining people and multiple reports of individuals allegedly picked up on weak evidence fuelled criticism and pushed Trump’s approval ratings down.

The fatal, separate shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti last month intensified the outrage. The detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos on January 20 further added to public anger.

Homan indicated that the officers deployed to Minnesota could be reassigned elsewhere in the country but did not specify a location. “In the next week, we’re going to deploy the officers here on detail, back to their home stations or other areas of the country where they are needed. But we’re going to continue to enforce immigration law," he said, AFP reported.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply criticised the crackdown. The ICE operation in his city “had been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses, and now it’s time for a great comeback," Frey said. “We will show the same commitment to our immigrant residents."

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the deployment as an “unprecedented federal invasion in all aspects of life."

“This is something I don’t think any state has ever experienced," Walz said Thursday, adding that he was “cautiously optimistic" about the withdrawal.

Following the killings of Good and Pretti, President Trump removed Customs and Border Protection commander Gregory Bovino and replaced him with Homan, who has since engaged with local Democratic leaders. Minneapolis is a Democratic-run sanctuary city, where local law enforcement does not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Some residents remain unconvinced. “I don’t buy it," Molly, a 42-year-old banking product manager, told AFP. “They pulled the same public relations (stunt) in Los Angeles," she added, referring to a similar immigration crackdown in California last summer.

The political fallout may extend to Washington. Democrats have demanded reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including banning mobile patrols, prohibiting officers from concealing their faces and requiring warrants. On Thursday, Democrats in the Senate blocked a push to fund the Department of Homeland Security after what AFP described as an acrimonious four-hour hearing on the Minnesota operation.

While Customs and Border Protection and ICE may continue operations using previously approved funds, other sub-agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency could face disruptions if funding gaps emerge.

Homan said some officers would remain in Minnesota but did not provide numbers. “The Twin Cities, Minnesota in general, are and will continue to be, much safer for the communities here because of what we have accomplished under President Trump’s leadership," he said.

According to Homan, more than 200 people were arrested for allegedly interfering with federal officers during the operation. He did not disclose how many immigration-related arrests or deportations were carried out.

“The lasting impact of these traumas will reverberate for years, but our communities have shown how connected and resilient we are," community organiser Liz Digitale Anderson told the news agency.

News world ‘I Proposed, President Concurred’: Trump To End Minnesota Immigration Crackdown, Says Border Czar

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