Minnesota Governor Expects Federal Immigration Crackdown to End Soon

Walz says he has been in talks with Trump administration officials about winding down the operation in the state.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he expects the federal immigration crackdown in the state to end in 'days, not weeks and months,' based on his recent conversations with top Trump administration officials. Walz said he spoke with border czar Tom Homan and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and he is in a 'trust but verify mode' as the administration indicates the operation is winding down.

Why it matters

The federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota has faced growing political backlash and questions about how the operation was being run, including two fatal shootings by federal officers. Walz has been critical of the 'occupation' and 'retribution campaign' against the state, and he is concerned about the economic impact on local businesses.

The details

Walz said Homan told him last week that 700 federal officers would leave Minnesota immediately, but that still left 2,300 on the state's streets. Walz expects the state will get 'cooperation on joint investigations' into the shooting deaths of two individuals by federal officers, which has been a point of friction between state and federal authorities.

  • On January 29, federal officers were involved in two fatal shootings in Minnesota.
  • In late January, Tom Homan took over the Minnesota immigration operation.

The players

Tim Walz

The Democratic governor of Minnesota who has been critical of the federal immigration crackdown in the state.

Tom Homan

The border czar who took over the Minnesota immigration operation in late January.

Susie Wiles

The White House chief of staff with whom Walz spoke about the immigration crackdown.

Renee Good

An individual who was fatally shot by federal officers during the immigration crackdown.

Alex Pretti

An individual who was fatally shot by federal officers during the immigration crackdown.

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What they’re saying

“We're very much in a trust but verify mode.”

— Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota (wbal.com)

“It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this thing is done, and they're bringing her down and they're bringing her down in days.”

— Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota (wbal.com)

What’s next

Walz expects to hear more from the Trump administration 'in the next day or so' about the future of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

The takeaway

The federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota has faced growing political backlash and economic consequences, leading the state's governor to work with the Trump administration to wind down the operation in the coming days.