Trump administration withdraws ICE agents from Minnesota

Samuel Perkins

Lead Reporter

The Trump administration has made a significant change in its immigration enforcement strategy by ending the surge of ICE agents in Minnesota. This decision came after weeks of protests and legal challenges that brought intense public scrutiny to the operation. The announcement marks a shift in the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement in the region.

In late 2025, the Trump administration launched a focused immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. The goal was to target undocumented immigrants and increase deportations in the state. This surge involved deploying additional ICE agents to conduct raids and arrests, aiming to reduce unauthorized immigration quickly.

The operation sparked immediate backlash from local communities, advocacy groups, and some state officials. Protests erupted across Minnesota, highlighting concerns about civil rights violations, family separations, and the impact on immigrant communities. Legal challenges also questioned the operation’s legality and methods.

On February 12, 2026, Border Czar Tom Homan announced that the Minnesota surge would end. He stated that the operation had met its initial objectives, though he did not specify detailed results. Many observers believe the decision was influenced heavily by the widespread public opposition and legal hurdles.

The administration’s withdrawal reflects the difficulty of maintaining aggressive enforcement in the face of strong local resistance. Minnesota’s protests demonstrated how community pushback can affect federal immigration actions. The legal challenges also slowed down enforcement efforts, making the surge less effective.