“Operation Metro Surge” is reportedly winding down after several weeks of immigration enforcement, thousands of arrests and multiple investigations into federal agents’ actions.
Large protests have continued to grow in the Twin Cities since federal agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, during separate incidents in south Minneapolis last month.
Thursday morning during a news conference, the federal administration’s “border czar” Tom Homan said a “significant draw-down” is already underway and will continue into next week as officers return to their home duty stations or are re-assigned elsewhere.
Homan said he met with Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and now-former Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, along with police chiefs and sheriffs, describing what he called an “unprecedented level” of coordination focused on public safety. He said the surge operation resulted in arrests of “many criminal aliens,” including “murders, sex offenders, national security threats, gang members and other violent criminals.”
Homan also addressed claims he said he’s heard about arrests at sensitive locations.
“During the surge operation, ICE has not arrested anybody inside a hospital. We have not arrested anybody inside of a school, an elementary school. We have not arrested anybody inside a church,” Homan said. “However, those locations are not off the table. I said in day one, there’s no sanctuary for a significant public safety threat or national security threat.”
Homan said federal officials believe arrests tied to jail releases are safer than at-large operations and said officers have been strategically positioned across the state to respond quickly when sheriffs notify federal officials of inmate release times.
“We now have the ability to arrest criminal aliens in the safety and security of jails throughout the state at the time they’re being released like we’ve done in other states,” he said. “Arresting a public safety threat in the safety and security of a jail is safer for the alien, is safer for the officer, and safer for the community.”
Homan also said federal officials in Minnesota “have located 3,364 missing unaccompanied alien children,” crediting the discovery to enforcement actions taken under President Donald Trump’s administration.
A smaller federal presence will remain in Minnesota temporarily as the drawdown continues and as investigations into alleged agitator activity and fraud cases remain active, Homan said.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty later responded to the reported end of Operation Metro Surge, saying her office remains focused on investigating federal enforcement actions tied to the operation.
“We receive the news of the alleged end of Operation Metro Surge with some skepticism. Questions should be asked and answered about the exact nature of the cooperation with ICE supposedly promised by local and state officials, who were already providing all information and cooperation required by law,” Moriarty said in a written statement Thursday afternoon.
“If the federal government is really ending this occupation, the reason is that Minnesotans resisted in countless nonviolent ways. This community continues to show inspirational energy and strength in caring for neighbors. Our immigrant community has demonstrated incredible courage,” the statement continued.
Homan said he plans to remain in Minnesota for a period of time to oversee the transition back to local field office control.
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