Trump Administration Ends Controversial Immigration Enforcement Surge in Minneapolis

State and local leaders call for federal government to pay for the damage and trauma caused by the operation.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Trump administration has announced the end of its 'Operation Metro Surge' immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after over a month of what state and local leaders describe as 'devastation' and 'generational trauma' inflicted on the community. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the actions of the more than 2,000 'untrained, aggressive federal agents' deployed to the city, which resulted in the deaths of two residents, the disappearance of students, and widespread civil rights violations against US citizens and legal residents.

Why it matters

The federal immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis highlighted growing concerns over the tactics and accountability of agencies like ICE, with public support for the agency plummeting nationwide as a result of the operation's 'gross incompetence and appetite for wanton violence.' State and local leaders are now calling on the federal government to provide financial assistance to help the community recover from the damage caused by the operation.

The details

According to officials, the 'Operation Metro Surge' operation brought over 2,000 masked federal agents to Minneapolis, with the Department of Homeland Security claiming to have arrested 4,000 individuals. However, local news outlets have cast doubt on these figures, with one journalist finding only 335 arrests listed in public records. The operation resulted in the shooting deaths of two residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as the disappearance of several students who were later spotted in a Texas detention facility. The ACLU has also filed a federal lawsuit challenging ICE's actions, collecting over two dozen depositions from US citizens and legal residents who say they were profiled and detained without warrants.

  • The federal immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis began in January 2026.
  • On February 12, 2026, White House border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the operation.

The players

Tom Homan

White House border czar who announced the end of the immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis.

Tim Walz

Governor of Minnesota who cataloged the damage caused by the federal operation and called for the federal government to pay for the costs borne by the state.

Jacob Frey

Mayor of Minneapolis who condemned the 'catastrophic' operation for the city's residents and businesses, and expressed hope for a 'great comeback' as the community moves forward.

Keith Ellison

Minnesota Attorney General who testified that federal law enforcement has stonewalled state and local investigations into the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Greg Bovino

Former commander-at-large of the Border Patrol who was relieved of his duties in January 2026 in relation to the Minneapolis operation.

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What they’re saying

“This surge of untrained, aggressive federal agents are going to leave Minnesota — and I guess they'll go wherever they're going to go — but the fact of the matter is, they left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin. In some cases, they left us with many unanswered questions: Where are our children? Where, and what is the process of the investigations into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee [Good] and Alex [Pretti]?”

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

“We've seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks. And it's all good changes.”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar (rollingstone.com)

“This operation has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses, and now it's time for a great comeback. We will show the same commitment to our immigrant residents and endurance in this reopening, and I'm hopeful the whole country will stand with us as we move forward.”

— Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis (rollingstone.com)

What’s next

The Minnesota Attorney General's office continues to investigate the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and is seeking cooperation from federal law enforcement agencies.

The takeaway

The federal immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis has left deep scars on the community, with state and local leaders calling for the federal government to be held accountable for the damage and trauma inflicted on residents. This incident has further eroded public trust in agencies like ICE, underscoring the need for greater oversight and reform of immigration enforcement tactics nationwide.