U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to wind down Operation Metro Surge, a controversial immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota, following months of protests and public backlash. White House officials confirmed on February 13, 2026, that federal agents will begin withdrawing this week, though local authorities remain skeptical of the administration’s commitments.
The operation, launched in January 2026, deployed 3,000 armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota—a move Trump hailed as critical for national security but critics condemned as excessive. Clashes between protesters and agents escalated after two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot during enforcement actions in Minneapolis last month.
While border policy advisor Tom Homan called the drawdown a "strategic shift," Governor Tim Walz emphasized the lasting damage to communities: "They left us with generational trauma and economic ruin. Recovery won’t happen overnight." Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty echoed concerns, stating officials view the withdrawal announcement with "skepticism" amid unresolved tensions.
Despite the retreat, Homan reiterated during a Fox News interview that mass deportations remain a priority. The decision follows Reuters/Ipsos polling showing dwindling public support for Trump’s immigration agenda as protests spread nationwide.
Approximately 700 agents have already left Minnesota, with more expected to depart in the coming days. Prior to the surge, only 150 ICE personnel were stationed in the state.
