Minnesota Deportation Force SURGES—Despite Claims It Ended

The Trump administration’s largest-ever immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota has concluded with federal agents withdrawing en masse, but sworn court filings reveal ICE will still maintain a slightly elevated deportation force in the state—a strategic footprint that raises questions about whether the controversial surge truly ends or simply shifts into a quieter, long-term enforcement posture.

Story Snapshot

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Minnesota drops to about 107 officers after deploying up to 4,000 federal agents during Operation Metro Surge, the largest DHS immigration operation ever.
Post-surge staffing remains above pre-operation levels, with roughly 27 extra ERO officers compared to the typical 80 assigned to the Twin Cities before the crackdown began.
Federal court affidavits document the drawdown amid an ACLU civil-rights lawsuit alleging racial profiling, warrantless arrests, and constitutional violations during the two-month operation.
Two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, triggering national scrutiny, violent protests, and intense political backlash from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and local leaders.

Massive Federal Deployment Reduced to Baseline Plus 47

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Sam Olson filed a sworn affidavit in federal court detailing the staffing reduction in Minnesota. Olson stated that ICE ERO will return to approximately 107 officers assigned to the St. Paul field office, which covers Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Before Operation Metro Surge launched in December 2025, the St. Paul field office typically maintained around 190 ERO officers across the five-state region, with about 80 physically assigned to the Twin Cities. The post-surge figure of 107 officers represents a modest increase of roughly 27 officers above the pre-operation Twin Cities baseline, contradicting claims of a complete withdrawal.

Court-Ordered Disclosures Reveal Operation’s True Scale

U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud ordered ICE and CBP officials to file detailed affidavits as part of an ACLU civil-rights lawsuit challenging Operation Metro Surge. The sworn statements by Olson and CBP Lead Field Coordinator Marty Raybon Sr. revealed that approximately 4,000 federal agents cycled through Minnesota at various points during the operation. CBP has demobilized nearly its entire Minnesota presence, with the final 67 personnel leaving by late February 2026. Homeland Security Investigations deployed about 300 agents who remain associated with the St. Paul field office post-drawdown. These court filings provide unprecedented transparency into an operation federal officials described as targeting noncitizens with criminal records and final removal orders.

Fatal Shootings and Constitutional Concerns Drive Federal Retreat

Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis during the surge, transforming what federal officials framed as routine enforcement into a national crisis. Governor Tim Walz condemned the operation as an “unnecessary, unwarranted and in many cases unconstitutional assault” on Minnesota residents. Border czar Tom Homan was dispatched in late January 2026 to take control after the second fatal shooting, and on February 4 announced the immediate withdrawal of 700 officers. The ACLU lawsuit alleges racial profiling and unlawful, warrantless arrests without probable cause, claims that resonate with conservatives who value Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, even as they support robust immigration enforcement.

Long-Term Enforcement Posture Remains Uncertain

Tom Homan announced on February 12 that the Minnesota crackdown is ending, calling it a success that resulted in over 4,000 arrests and made Minnesota “less of a sanctuary state for criminals.” However, Homan emphasized that immigration enforcement nationwide will continue, signaling that the surge model may be replicated elsewhere. Minnesota’s experience was markedly more volatile than earlier ICE surges in Chicago and Los Angeles, with federal and local observers noting sustained protests, community trauma, and long-term economic damage to immigrant neighborhoods. Judge Tostrud’s pending ruling in the ACLU case could set precedents that constrain future operations, underscoring the judiciary’s role in balancing executive enforcement authority against constitutional limits on federal power.

ICE down to just 47 extra deportation officers in Minnesota https://t.co/jivMzrQbpf

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 7, 2026

The elevated ICE presence, though dramatically reduced from surge levels, suggests the administration intends to maintain pressure on sanctuary jurisdictions. For conservatives who prioritize rule of law and border security, the operation’s documented arrests of individuals with criminal records and removal orders represent fulfillment of campaign promises. Yet the fatal shootings of citizens and allegations of warrantless arrests highlight risks when federal enforcement expands rapidly without clear accountability mechanisms. The tension between effective immigration enforcement and constitutional safeguards—principles conservatives hold dear—will shape how future operations unfold and whether Minnesota’s painful lessons inform a more disciplined approach nationwide.