As Homan announces end to Operation Metro Surge, local leaders still don’t get it
By Easton Martin | February 12, 2026
Federal authorities announced Thursday that the controversial immigration enforcement initiative known as Operation Metro Surge will conclude in the coming days. Tom Homan, the Trump administration border czar, confirmed the decision during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, stating that the thousands of agents deployed to the Twin Cities will begin returning to their home stations.
The announcement follows two months of intense civil unrest and legal challenges. The operation reached a flashpoint in January after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in separate incidents. These deaths ignited nationwide protests and led to a federal lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Local leaders claimed the militarized presence violated constitutional rights and caused significant economic damage. The evidence for violation of constitutional rights is scant at best, and it seems the bulk of economic damage was actually caused by anti-ICE demonstrators.
Homan attributed the decision to the operation’s success, claiming more than 4,000 arrests were made during the surge. He noted that a recent decrease in agitator activity and improved coordination with local law enforcement allowed for the drawdown. Homan told reporters that he proposed the conclusion to the president, who concurred that the mission had achieved its primary objectives.
