The BareStory
White House border czar Tom Homan announced on Wednesday the immediate withdrawal of 700 federal law enforcement personnel from Minnesota. Following this reduction, approximately 2,000 agents will remain in the state, primarily concentrated in the Twin Cities area. Homan acknowledged that while this figure is lower than the total deployed during "Operation Metro Surge," it remains significantly higher than the pre-surge presence. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem separately stated that federal officers in Minneapolis will soon be equipped with body cameras.
Homan attributed the decision to withdraw forces to "unprecedented cooperation" and a unified command structure with local agencies, which he claimed allows for more efficient custody transfers from jails. However, he stated that a complete drawdown is contingent on a decrease in rhetoric and "illegal and threatening activities" against immigration agents. While Homan defended the operation as targeted enforcement removing individuals with serious criminal records, he affirmed that the administration maintains its goal of mass deportations.
Local and federal leaders offered mixed reactions to the announcement. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the move as a "step in the right direction" but demanded a full conclusion to the operation, which Frey termed "catastrophic" for the community. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the partial withdrawal as insufficient, insisting all agents should leave. Amid these developments, the Minneapolis City Council advanced a resolution to allocate an additional $500,000 for immigrant legal services.
The federal operation has faced intensified scrutiny following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in January. Democratic members of a House committee recently released a report accusing the White House and the Department of Homeland Security of a cover-up regarding the deaths. Local officials, including Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston, have also reported that the surge has caused significant revenue losses for local businesses and strained county law enforcement resources.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• Residents in the Twin Cities area will continue to observe a federal law enforcement presence significantly higher than pre-surge levels, as approximately 2,000 agents remain deployed to focus on mass deportations and custody transfers.
• Interactions with federal officers in Minneapolis will soon be recorded as the Department of Homeland Security equips agents with body cameras following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.
• Local business owners and taxpayers may face ongoing economic impacts, including reported revenue losses for businesses and the strain on county law enforcement resources caused by the federal operation.
• The Minneapolis municipal budget will shift to accommodate an additional $500,000 allocation for immigrant legal services in response to the intensified enforcement.
• A full removal of federal agents is currently paused and conditional, meaning the scope of the operation will depend on whether officials perceive a decrease in threats and rhetoric against immigration agents.
