Federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis are winding down after weeks of intense controversy, White House border coordinator Tom Homan announced Thursday, even as state officials appeared before Congress to demand accountability for what they termed an unprecedented and damaging federal intervention.
The declaration came during a morning press conference where Homan confirmed that Operation Metro Surge, which at its peak deployed approximately 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis area, would be concluding in the coming days. The operation, described by officials as the largest immigration enforcement surge in American history, had transformed Minnesota's largest city into a focal point of national debate over federal immigration policy and local sovereignty.
Homan stated that he had recommended ending the operation and received presidential approval, noting that a reduced contingent of federal personnel would remain in the area for ongoing enforcement activities.
The announcement was met with cautious optimism from Democratic leadership in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and numerous state legislators expressed relief at the operation's end while emphasizing the lasting consequences of what they characterized as a heavy-handed federal intrusion into local affairs.
Governor Walz did not mince words regarding the financial toll, announcing his intention to seek reimbursement from the federal government for what he described as severe economic damage inflicted upon the state.
According to Walz, the federal government bears financial responsibility for the disruption caused by its enforcement actions. He emphasized that federal authorities cannot cause widespread damage and then withdraw without addressing the consequences.
The governor's comments reflected a broader sentiment among state officials that the surge had disrupted commerce, strained local resources, and created an atmosphere of fear that impacted Minnesota's economy. While specific figures were not immediately provided, state leaders indicated they would compile a comprehensive assessment of costs associated with the federal operation.
Senate Confrontation
Even as Homan spoke in Minneapolis, two of Minnesota's top officials were facing a hostile reception in Washington. State Attorney General Keith Ellison and Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where they clashed with Republican lawmakers over the circumstances that prompted the federal surge.
The hearing quickly grew contentious as GOP senators challenged Ellison's handling of state-level issues. Republican members accused the attorney general of contributing to violence in Minnesota and suggested he bore responsibility for the state's expansive fraud scandal, allegations that Ellison forcefully rejected.
The testimony devolved into shouting matches at several points, with senators and the attorney general talking over each other as they debated the merits of the federal intervention and the state's own law enforcement record. Ellison maintained that the surge had caused significant harm to Minnesota and represented an overreach of federal authority.
In his testimony, Ellison called on committee members to exercise their oversight powers to implement significant reforms within federal immigration enforcement agencies. Specifically, he requested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) be required to provide complete documentation of all arrests and detentions conducted during the operation, grant oversight access to detention facilities, and ensure thorough state and federal investigations into the deaths of two individuals killed by federal officers during the surge.
Fatal Encounters
The killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good have become central to the controversy surrounding Operation Metro Surge. Both individuals died during encounters with federal immigration officers last month, incidents that sparked widespread protests and intensified scrutiny of the surge's tactics.
The Trump administration has attempted to characterize both Pretti and Good as terrorists who posed threats to law enforcement, a characterization that has been disputed by family members, local activists, and some lawmakers. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain under investigation, though details have been limited.
Homan was placed in charge of federal operations in Minneapolis following Pretti's death, a move that underscored the administration's commitment to maintaining a strong enforcement presence despite growing local opposition.
Republican Accusations
The Senate hearing exposed deep partisan divisions over immigration enforcement and public safety. Republican senators directed much of their criticism at Ellison, questioning his effectiveness as the state's chief law enforcement officer and linking him to broader concerns about crime and fraud in Minnesota.
At one point, senators suggested Ellison himself should face jail time over the state's fraud scandal, an accusation that provoked an angry response from the attorney general. The exchange highlighted the increasingly polarized nature of debates over immigration, law enforcement, and federal-state relations.
Ellison and Schnell defended Minnesota's record while arguing that the federal surge had undermined rather than enhanced public safety. They contended that the massive deployment of federal officers had created tension in communities, diverted resources from other priorities, and damaged trust between residents and law enforcement.
DHS Funding Deadline
The timing of these developments is particularly significant as the Department of Homeland Security faces an approaching funding deadline. Congressional negotiations over DHS appropriations have become entangled in broader debates over immigration policy and enforcement tactics, with the Minneapolis surge serving as a flashpoint for both parties.
The controversy has added another layer of complexity to already difficult funding discussions, with Democrats likely to push for restrictions on similar future operations and Republicans defending the administration's authority to conduct aggressive enforcement actions.
Lasting Impact
While the formal surge operation is ending, its legacy will likely persist in Minnesota and beyond. The deployment set a precedent for large-scale federal immigration enforcement in urban areas and sparked legal and political challenges that could shape future interactions between federal agencies and local governments.
State officials have indicated they will continue pressing for transparency regarding the operation's conduct and costs. The push for federal reimbursement represents an unusual effort by a state to hold the federal government financially accountable for law enforcement activities, potentially establishing a new model for intergovernmental relations.
Community groups and civil rights organizations have vowed to maintain pressure on both state and federal officials to ensure accountability for the deaths of Pretti and Good. Protests that have continued for weeks show few signs of abating, even with the announcement of the surge's conclusion.
Looking Forward
Homan's announcement that a reduced force of federal officers would remain suggests that immigration enforcement will continue in Minneapolis, albeit at a diminished scale. The nature and scope of that remaining presence remain unclear, though local officials have expressed concern that any continued federal operation could reignite tensions.
For Minnesota leaders, the focus now shifts to recovery and prevention. Governor Walz's promise to seek federal reimbursement signals a confrontational approach to dealing with the Trump administration, while Ellison's calls for congressional oversight reflect a belief that legislative reforms are necessary to prevent similar operations in the future.
The Senate hearing demonstrated that partisan divisions over immigration enforcement show no signs of narrowing. With both sides digging in on their positions, the Minneapolis surge may serve as a template for future conflicts between federal immigration authorities and local governments that resist aggressive enforcement tactics.
As the Department of Homeland Security funding deadline approaches, the lessons from Minneapolis are likely to inform congressional debates about the appropriate scope and scale of federal immigration enforcement, the balance between federal authority and local autonomy, and the accountability mechanisms necessary to oversee controversial operations.