OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
11:41 AM – Thursday, February 12, 2026
Border czar Tom Homan announced the end of “Operation Metro Surge,” the two-month-long immigration enforcement crackdown across the state of Minnesota.
“As a result of our efforts here, Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals,” Homan said during a Thursday press conference at the Bishop Whipple federal building in Minneapolis.
He emphasized that the operation has significantly reduced public safety threats with “unprecedented levels of coordination” from local law enforcement.
This sentiment mirrored his remarks from last week’s briefing, where Homan revealed that increased cooperation from local authorities — specifically the practice of notifying federal agents before releasing illegal aliens from custody — had significantly streamlined operations.
Citing this newfound efficiency, he had announced the departure of 700 federal officers on February 4th, reducing the total surge force in Minnesota to 2,000.
“With the success that has been made in arresting public safety threats and other priorities since this surge operation began, as well as the unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement, I have proposed — and President Trump has concurred — that this surge operation conclude,” he told reporters.
The drawdown has already been in effect under his supervision and will continue into the next week as a portion of federal officers are relocated out of the state.
“Federal government personnel assigned to conduct criminal investigations into the agitators, as well as the personnel assigned here for the fraud investigations, will remain in place until the work is done,” Homan added.
Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.), who previously announced he would not seek reelection in 2026 amid ongoing fraud investigations into state social service programs, confirmed he spoke with Homan following Thursday’s briefing. Walz reported that federal officials assured him the remaining surge of ICE agents would begin exiting the state immediately, marking what the governor described as the start of a “long road to recovery” for Minnesota.
“I would volunteer — we will help you get to the airport. We will clear the roads to get you to the airport,” Walz said, addressing ICE. “I will come over and pack your damn bags if that’s what it takes.”
Walz previously claimed Minnesota was “at war” with the federal government over the Trump administration’s illegal immigration enforcement operations in the state.
“For those who say we are backing down from immigration enforcement or the promise of mass deportations, you are simply wrong,” Homan clarified.
Homan credited the successful operation with arresting more than 4,000 illegal aliens and locating 3,364 unaccompanied migrant children, whom he maintained “the last administration lost and weren’t even looking for.”
Homan also rebutted mainstream media claims that federal officers were arresting people inside hospitals, elementary schools, or churches during the enforcement surge, calling it “simply false.”
“As a matter of fact, the only ones that disrespected a sanctuary or church were the agitators that have been arrested and prosecuted,” he added, likely referring to the Cities Church protest that led to the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
In his press conference, Homan further addressed the controversy surrounding “sensitive locations.” While he denied that agents had been “scouring” these sites during the operation, he explicitly stated that they are not off-limits.
In January 2025, the DHS officially revoked the Biden-era “sensitive locations” memo, which had previously barred arrests at schools and churches.
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