Dems Claim Victory After Border Czar Announces End to State Crackdown: 'Minnesotans Stood Together, Stared Down ICE, and Never Blinked'

Democratic leaders in Minnesota declared vindication after Tom Homan, the president's border czar, announced the end of a months-long federal immigration enforcement surge in the state, with top officials crediting public resistance and community solidarity.

At a press conference in Minneapolis, border czar Tom Homan said the president has agreed to conclude the federal operation known as "Operation Metro Surge," which since December had deployed thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection officers across the Twin Cities region.

"We've seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks — all good changes," Homan said, adding that enforcement targets in the area have been "greatly reduced" and that the withdrawal of personnel would continue into next week, leaving a "small footprint" in place temporarily to transition control back to a local field office and prevent what he described as agitator activity.

Minnesota Democrats responded with statements portraying the drawdown as the result of unified opposition. Sen. Amy Klobuchar wrote on X: "Minnesotans stood together, stared down ICE, and never blinked."

Gov. Tim Walz in the meantime said that "the long road to recovery starts now," adding that "the impact on our economy, our schools, and people's lives won't be reversed overnight."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who met with Homan in late January to request the end of the operation and to express "the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities", said about Thursday's announcement:

"They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation. These patriots of Minneapolis are showing that it's not just about resistance — standing with our neighbors is deeply American."

Outcry in the state blew over after two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by federal agents in separate incidents in January, intensifying protests and criticism of federal enforcement tactics. Homan replaced the prior federal field commander shortly afterward.

State Attorney General Keith Ellison told a Senate committee that the operation increased risks to public safety, testifying that "the surge is contributing to violent crime." Homan acknowledged "there were some issues" but said authorities had addressed them and that the operation leaves Minnesota "safer."