Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz said Tuesday that he expects federal immigration raids in the state to wind down within days, not weeks, after weeks of unrest in the Twin Cities.
Walz said he spoke Tuesday morning with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and that those conversations led him to believe the operations would soon ease.
“It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this thing is done, and they’re bringing [it] down in days,” Walz said. “That would be my expectation.”
Earlier Tuesday, lawmakers on Capitol Hill questioned leaders of Department of Homeland Security agencies overseeing the Minnesota effort. The operation has included sweeping arrests of immigrants with varying legal statuses, as well as two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents, according to officials and lawmakers.
Why It Matters
Walz has been sharply critical of the Trump administration’s actions in Minnesota. The federal activity in the Twin Cities followed investigations into alleged fraud involving Somali immigrants, but tensions escalated after Renee Good, a U.S. citizen, was shot in her car by an ICE agent on January 7. Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for agents to leave the area, but operations continued amid ongoing protests.
Later in the month, VA nurse Alex Pretti was also shot and killed by federal agents, further fueling public anger.
What To Know
Walz said Tuesday he was in a “trust but verify mode” regarding the idea that hundreds of agents would pull out of Minneapolis and St. Paul, adding that more details could emerge in the coming days.
Last week, Homan—who was sent to the Twin Cities to take over operations from Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino—said 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal agents in the area would be withdrawn. He attributed the shift in part to increased cooperation with local law enforcement.
Homan also said he was not asking local law enforcement to act as immigration officers and that jails were not required to hold people beyond their mandated jail time—an issue raised by multiple sanctuary jurisdictions. He said improved coordination would allow federal agents to take custody of individuals more smoothly.
Walz said Tuesday that he also expected state officials would be allowed to participate in investigations into the deaths of Good and Pretti, after weeks of claims that state authorities had been excluded.
What Is “Operation Metro Surge”?
Operation Metro Surge was described as the latest in a series of federal operations in major U.S. cities as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Agents were brought in from around the country in December to detain alleged undocumented immigrants with criminal histories and to pursue investigations tied to alleged fraud involving Somali immigrants. The effort involved about 3,000 agents from ICE and the Border Patrol conducting arrests, including in residential neighborhoods and at businesses.
As with similar operations in other cities, federal agents clashed with protesters and local leaders, who argued the tactics were overly aggressive.
Protests intensified after the deaths of Good and Pretti. Trump administration officials initially blamed both individuals for their deaths, even as investigations were still unfolding.
During Tuesday’s congressional hearing, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons faced questions about the January 7 shooting that killed Good. Asked whether he would apologize for officials labeling her a domestic terrorist, Lyons said, “No, sir,” while adding that he welcomed “the opportunity to speak to the family in private” but would not comment on “active investigations.”
What People Are Saying
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, speaking Tuesday: “We’ve seen a de-escalation in protests, so our agents can do their intelligence-driven enforcement operations. Just the other night, local law enforcement arrested 54 protestors and ICE officers didn’t have to be engaged.”
Minnesota Democratic Representative Angie Craig wrote Tuesday on X that she was not surprised federal officials would not apologize to the families of Good and Pretti.
What Happens Next
A formal announcement outlining the next phase of the operation in Minnesota has not yet been made.
