Donald Trump is ending his immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two Americans by federal agents.
White House border czar Tom Homan announced the end of ‘Operation Metro Surge’ just weeks three weeks after the President deployed him to Minnesota to oversee the crackdown. Homan’s deployment displaced Border Patrol Greg Bovino, an ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Reene Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in January by immigration agents during the deportation operation. Polling suggests the killings were viewed unfavorably by voters, creating a potential political headache for the Trump administration as it heads into the midterm election.
Trump’s U-turn in Minneapolis marks a shocking turning point in his immigration enforcement. The President returned to power with what allies hailed as a clear electoral mandate after campaigning aggressively on mass deportations.
Now after negative media coverage and constant legal setbacks against Democratic state leaders, Trump’s immigration agenda is more unpopular than ever.
‘We’ve seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks,’ Homan said at a press conference in Minneapolis. ‘I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude.’
‘Twin Cities and Minnesota in general are and will continue to be much safer for the communities here because of what we have accomplished under President Trump’s leadership.’
Homan noted how local police and elected leaders have made deals with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow the agents to make arrests in jails.
The Trump administration’s surge of immigration agents to Minnesota will conclude, Border Czar Tom Homan announced on Thursday
Trump’s U-turn in Minneapolis marks a shocking turning point in his immigration enforcement
Trump’s withdrawal from Minnesota comes just a week after Vice President JD Vance told the Daily Mail that there would be no surrender in immigration enforcement in the state
Trump’s withdrawal from Minnesota ‘will continue to the next week,’ Homan said during the press conference.
Last week, Homan announced an initial drawdown of 700 immigration agents from the 2,000 officers still in the Twin Cities.
It also comes a week after Vice President JD Vance told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview that there would be no surrender when it comes to enforcement in the state.
Homan also announced that ICE was able to rescue thousands of unaccompanied migrant children during the operation.
‘ICE here in this state have located 3,364 missing unaccompanied alien children, children the last administration lost and weren’t even looking for,’ he said.
Trump’s decision to install Tom Homan at the helm of the Minneapolis operation was widely viewed as a stinging rebuke to Kristi Noem and her rumored lover, Corey Lewandowski.
The President was said to be dissatisfied with their handling of the fatal shootings of Good and Pretti.
Homan, a longtime rival of Noem, commands respect among rank-and-file immigration agents, DHS insiders told the Daily Mail.
Although the Trump border czar bragged about support for immigration agents from local officials, Homan did not cite any specific concessions they have made with the administration.
The withdrawal from Minneapolis also follows in the wake of Trump’s decision to pull National Guard troops from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland.
