Tom Homan, the so-called 'border czar' of the Donald Trump Administration, announced this Thursday, February 12, that he is ending the so-called Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. The immigration offensive has unleashed a wave of protests against the violent practices of ICE and Border Patrol agents, in whose hands at least two American citizens have died and thousands of citizens have been detained, including children and people with legal processes to remain in the United States.

First modification: 02/12/2026 - 17:09 Last modification: 02/12/2026 - 20:26

Donald Trump agreed to end the increase in deportations in Minnesota. This was stated in a press conference on February 12 by Tom Homan, the 'border czar'.

Homan, who in recent weeks was sent to that state in the north of the country, governed by Democrats, said that a reduction in federal immigration officers is underway and that he expects it to conclude next week.

"I have proposed, and President Trump has agreed, that this surge of operations be concluded," Homan told reporters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis.

This announcement comes a week after Homan publicly noted that approximately 700 of the 3,000 immigration agents sent to Minnesota would be recalled.

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According to Homan, the decision was made primarily because of what he called "unprecedented" coordination with local Minnesota law enforcement agencies for arrests of supposedly undocumented immigrants.

In that sense, the official stressed that two main factors were analyzed: the multitude of arrests for "threats to public safety" that the operation has generated and a drastic reduction in the need for federal officials to resort to rapid response teams due to "agitators."

"That's positive. It's a victory for everyone, not just for the safety of law enforcement officers (...) It's a victory for this community," he stressed.

But the measure comes after widespread rejection not only in Minnesota, but throughout the United States for the violence exerted by immigration agents, a magnitude not seen in generations and that could cause greater detractors in the face of the crucial midterm elections, next November, in which Congress will be renewed: all of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.

Read alsoHoman suggests reducing immigration agents in Minnesota, but only after "cooperation"

Metro Surge, the violent immigration offensive not seen in generations in the US

Within the framework of the so-called Operation Metro Surge, the Republican president had deployed around 3,000 armed immigration agents at the end of January, with the stated objective of deporting immigrants from Minnesota that he described as “criminals.”

However, immigration agents have carried out violent actions, such as beatings, forcible raids on homes and even the use of weapons, which is why at least two American citizens have died in their hands: nurse Alex Pretti and the mother of three children, Renée Good. Their deaths further triggered the rejection of residents who have demonstrated for weeks against the Trump Administration's harsh anti-immigration policy.

The policy has served to arrest racial profiling. Where are you from? Or where were you born? They have become the most common questions asked by members of ICE and the Border Patrol before carrying out arrests and beatings of hundreds of people, as recorded in videos captured by witnesses.

Although the Trump Administration repeats that it intends to get rid of "criminals" and "illegals", the majority of those arrested, as official figures highlighted by Democratic legislators have shown, are people with no criminal record.

Furthermore, in the midst of this operation, agents sent by the Trump Administration have also detained immigrants with permission to remain in the country, such as visas, asylum applications in process and, in other cases, residency or nationality cards.

Among the arrests that have caused the most shock are those of children, between 18 months and five years old. This was the case of Liam Conejo, the minor of Ecuadorian origin who spent more than a month in a center in Dilley, Texas, after being detained with his father.

Amalia, a baby who was on the verge of dying, also remained there without medicine or supplementary food in the midst of a serious respiratory infection, according to a lawsuit.

The two minors were released amid protests and social pressure. However, there are still hundreds of children detained in various centers in the country, according to complaints from families and civil organizations.

Read alsoUS Justice orders the release of the 5-year-old boy arrested by ICE but ratifies raids in Minnesota

With Reuters, AP and local media

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