President Donald Trump Ends Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota Following Fatal Shootings by Federal Immigration Agents in Minneapolis

Just a few weeks ago, Minnesota was at the center of one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement pushes of Donald Trump’s second term.

Now, in a move that’s raising eyebrows across Washington, that operation is winding down.

The White House confirmed that “Operation Metro Surge” — the large-scale immigration crackdown focused on Minneapolis and the wider Twin Cities area — is coming to an end.

The announcement came from border czar Tom Homan, who had been dispatched personally by Trump to oversee the mission.

The decision follows intense backlash after two Americans, Reene Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by federal immigration agents during enforcement actions in January.

The deaths sparked protests, political fallout, and uncomfortable questions for the administration.

The Fatal Shootings That Changed the Narrative

The turning point came quickly.

What was meant to showcase strength on immigration instead became a political storm.

Good and Pretti were killed during deportation-related operations carried out by federal agents.

Details of the encounters remain under scrutiny, but the optics were damaging.

Polling in the aftermath suggested voters were uneasy — and in some cases openly critical — of the operation.

For an administration that returned to power on promises of mass deportations and border security, the backlash posed a serious midterm election risk.

Trump had campaigned hard on restoring aggressive immigration enforcement.

Supporters called it a mandate. Critics warned of overreach.

Minnesota became the test case — and ultimately, the flashpoint.

Tom Homan Steps Back

At a press conference in Minneapolis, Tom Homan acknowledged the shift.

“We’ve seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks,” he said, explaining that he had recommended ending the surge operation — and that President Trump agreed.

Homan insisted the mission improved public safety and claimed thousands of missing migrant children were located during the effort.

According to him, Immigration and Customs Enforcement identified 3,364 unaccompanied minors in Minnesota who had previously been unaccounted for.

That claim will likely be debated, as immigration data often involves complex tracking systems and shifting definitions of what qualifies as “missing.”

Under previous administrations, critics argued that migrant child tracking systems were overwhelmed, especially during border surges.

Still, Homan framed the operation as a success — even as it winds down.

Internal Politics Behind the Scenes

This wasn’t just about immigration policy.

There were also signs of tension inside the administration.

Trump’s decision to install Homan in Minnesota reportedly sidelined Border Patrol official Greg Bovino, who is aligned with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Sources suggested the President was unhappy with how the shootings were handled and wanted a tougher, more disciplined figure in charge.

Homan and Noem have long been seen as rivals within immigration enforcement circles.

His deployment was widely viewed as a power move.

Now, with the withdrawal underway, questions remain about whether this signals a broader recalibration of Trump’s immigration team — or simply damage control.

Scaling Back the Presence

The numbers tell part of the story.

At its peak, roughly 2,000 federal immigration agents were operating in the Twin Cities.

Last week, 700 agents were pulled back.

The remainder will gradually withdraw over the coming days.

This pullback mirrors similar decisions elsewhere.

The administration recently scaled back National Guard deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland — cities that had also been focal points of enforcement and protest.

Vice President JD Vance had insisted just a week earlier that there would be “no surrender” on immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

The reversal suggests political realities may have intervened.

The Political Risk Ahead of Midterms

Immigration has long been one of Trump’s strongest campaign issues.

In 2016 and again in 2024, hardline rhetoric energized his base.

But governing is different from campaigning.

Legal challenges from Democratic state leaders, court injunctions limiting federal authority, and mounting negative media coverage have complicated the rollout of enforcement actions.

The Minnesota shootings amplified those challenges in a very public way.

With midterm elections approaching, Republicans cannot afford sustained losses among suburban voters — particularly in battleground states where immigration enforcement can be polarizing.

Ending Operation Metro Surge may be an attempt to contain the political damage before it spreads further.

Claims of Success and Lingering Questions

Homan defended the operation vigorously, saying Minnesota is “much safer” because of the surge.

He also pointed to cooperation agreements between ICE and local law enforcement that allowed federal agents to operate more freely in local jails.

However, he did not detail specific concessions or new policies.

Critics argue that such cooperation agreements often become political flashpoints, especially in states with Democratic leadership.

Civil liberties groups are expected to continue investigating the fatal shootings.

Lawsuits could follow. Congressional hearings are likely as well.

What’s Next?

The immediate next step is the full withdrawal of remaining surge personnel from Minnesota over the next week.

But the bigger question is strategic.

Will the administration pivot toward quieter, targeted enforcement rather than large publicized surges? Or will another state become the next focal point?

Watch for:

• Potential Justice Department reviews of the shootings

• Congressional oversight hearings

• Shifts in ICE operational strategy

• Midterm campaign messaging adjustments

The White House may try to reframe immigration around border security metrics rather than high-profile interior operations.

That would reduce public confrontation while maintaining policy goals.

For now, Minnesota marks the first major retreat of Trump’s renewed crackdown.

Summary

President Donald Trump is ending “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota following public backlash over the fatal shootings of two Americans during immigration enforcement actions.

Border czar Tom Homan confirmed the withdrawal, saying the operation improved safety and located thousands of missing migrant children.

However, political pressure, negative polling, and legal challenges appear to have influenced the decision.

The administration is now scaling back its federal presence in the state as it navigates growing scrutiny ahead of midterm elections.