Donald Trump orders end to Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown in Minnesota after fatal federal agent shootings spark political backlash in Minneapolis

Just weeks after launching a high-profile immigration crackdown in Minnesota, President Donald Trump is now pulling the plug.

The operation, known as Operation Metro Surge, was rolled out with heavy federal presence and strong rhetoric about restoring order.

But after two fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents shook the state — and triggered a wave of backlash — the administration has decided to stand down.

White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed the decision at a press conference in Minneapolis, saying he had proposed ending the surge and that Trump agreed.

The Shootings That Changed the Conversation

The turning point came after Reene Good and Alex Pretti were killed in January during deportation enforcement actions carried out by federal agents.

Details surrounding the incidents remain under scrutiny, but the political impact was immediate.

Public opinion polls suggested many voters were uneasy — if not outright opposed — to how the operation unfolded.

With midterm elections approaching, the controversy became more than just a policy dispute. It became a political liability.

Immigration enforcement has long been one of Trump’s defining campaign promises, but the events in Minnesota forced a recalibration.

From Aggressive Enforcement to Strategic Retreat

When Trump returned to office, allies framed his victory as a clear mandate for mass deportations and tighter border controls.

Minnesota became one of the administration’s most visible test cases.

Homan was deployed to oversee the crackdown, effectively replacing Border Patrol official Greg Bovino, who had ties to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

That reshuffling alone signaled internal tensions.

Now, in a surprising twist, Homan says the surge is over.

“We’ve seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks,” he said, adding that Minnesota and the Twin Cities are “safer” because of the operation’s efforts.

Still, the scale of the pullback is notable. Just last week, 700 agents were withdrawn from the roughly 2,000 deployed in the region.

A full wind-down is expected within days.

Political Crosscurrents Inside the Administration

Behind the scenes, this decision reportedly carries internal implications.

Trump’s move to put Homan in charge earlier was widely seen as a rebuke to Kristi Noem and her ally Corey Lewandowski.

Sources have suggested the president was dissatisfied with how the fatal incidents were handled.

Homan, a longtime figure in immigration enforcement, has strong backing among rank-and-file ICE and Border Patrol agents.

His appointment was viewed as an attempt to steady the ship.

But even that couldn’t shield the administration from mounting legal challenges and criticism from Minnesota’s Democratic leaders.

Claims of Success Amid Controversy

Despite the controversy, Homan defended the operation’s achievements.

He announced that ICE had located 3,364 unaccompanied migrant children who were previously unaccounted for under the prior administration.

The claim is significant, as missing migrant children have been a major talking point in national immigration debates.

Homan also noted that local officials had cooperated with federal authorities to allow immigration arrests in jails.

However, he did not provide detailed specifics about formal agreements or concessions.

A Broader Pattern of Pullbacks

The Minnesota withdrawal does not stand alone.

In recent weeks, Trump has also scaled back National Guard deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland.

Those cities had similarly become flashpoints in broader enforcement efforts.

Vice President JD Vance had recently insisted there would be “no surrender” on immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Yet, just days later, the administration’s stance softened.

Whether this is a tactical pause or a deeper strategic shift remains to be seen.

What’s Next?

The big question now is whether this signals a recalibration of Trump’s immigration strategy nationwide or simply a retreat from a politically damaging episode.

Legal battles with Democratic-led states are ongoing.

Advocacy groups are closely watching how federal enforcement tactics evolve.

And with midterms on the horizon, immigration will remain a defining issue.

Minnesota may have been the first major rollback of this second-term crackdown — but it likely won’t be the last test of how far the administration is willing to go.

Summary

President Donald Trump has ordered an end to Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota following fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents that sparked public backlash.

Border czar Tom Homan confirmed the drawdown, framing the move as a completed mission while defending enforcement achievements, including the recovery of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children.

The decision marks a notable shift in Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda and comes amid political pressure, internal administration tensions, and upcoming midterm elections.