Border Czar Announces Pullback of 700 Immigration Agents from Minnesota

Federal footprint in the state to be reduced by 25% as cooperation with local law enforcement increases

Feb. 5, 2026 at 3:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration will immediately withdraw 700 federal immigration and law enforcement personnel from Minnesota, reducing the federal presence in the state by about 25%, according to White House border czar Tom Homan. Roughly 2,000 federal agents will remain, mostly based in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Why it matters

The pullback comes after widespread protests and scrutiny following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in January. The administration says the reduction reflects increased cooperation with local law enforcement, allowing arrests to happen in controlled settings rather than on the street.

The details

Federal immigration agents have been operating in Minnesota since December as part of Operation Metro Surge, which brought more than 3,000 agents into the Twin Cities area at its peak. Homan said the drawdown is due to 'unprecedented cooperation' between federal authorities and local/county law enforcement, particularly through jails that are now transferring custody of undocumented immigrants directly to ICE before release.

  • The Trump administration will immediately pull 700 federal immigration and law enforcement personnel out of Minnesota.
  • Federal immigration agents have been operating in Minnesota since December as part of Operation Metro Surge.

The players

Tom Homan

White House border czar.

Renee Nicole Good

A U.S. citizen fatally shot by federal agents in January.

Alex Pretti

A U.S. citizen fatally shot by federal agents in January.

Kristi Noem

Homeland Security Secretary.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“More officers taking custody of criminal aliens directly from the jails, means less officers on the street doing criminal operations. This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement.”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar (kpua.net)

“We're not surrendering the president's mission on a mass-deportation operation. If you're in the country illegally, if we find you, we'll deport you. But this is about a targeted enforcement operation, and that's what we're going to be doing.”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar (kpua.net)

“A complete drawdown is going to depend on continued cooperation of local and state law enforcement and the decrease of the violence, the rhetoric and the attacks against ICE and Border Patrol.”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar (kpua.net)

What’s next

The administration has said a full withdrawal would depend on continued cooperation from state and local authorities, as well as a decline in violence, threats, and attacks against federal officers.

The takeaway

This partial pullback of federal immigration agents from Minnesota reflects the administration's efforts to strike a balance between immigration enforcement and de-escalating tensions with local communities, though it remains committed to its broader deportation agenda.