by Marcus Howley ’28 on February 12, 2026
News
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced that 700 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota. This move left around 2,000 agents in Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge that began in December 2025 and saw up to 3,000 ICE agents deployed to the state.
This decision comes in the wake of the killing of two U.S. citizens, Reneé Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, by ICE in January. The killings saw widespread backlash from both government officials and the American public, leading to outrage and protests across the nation. The homicides have been a problem for the Trump administration heading into what looks to be a difficult midterm year for President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. A new national poll conducted by PBS/NPR/Marist Poll found that around 65 percent of Americans believe ICE has gone too far, up 11 points from June. It was also found that 62 percent of Americans believe that ICE is making the country less safe.
In an interview with NBC, President Trump stated, “Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough.” The killings have left Trump and his allies scrambling to correct the situation as public opinion has started to turn against them. This move, along with the removal of Border Patrol’s “commander-at-large” Gregory Bovino last week, shows the administration’s clear attempts at damage control.
While a majority of the ICE agents stationed in Minnesota still remain, border czar Tom Homan stated at his press conference about the removal of the 700 agents that, “My goal, with the support of President Trump, is to achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge, as soon as we can.” It was reaffirmed, however, that the removal of all ICE agents from Minnesota is dependent upon the administration’s progress in its immigration objectives, with emphasis being placed on the fact that this move signals smarter enforcement, not less enforcement.
Democratic Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz posted on social media about the removal, “We need a faster and larger drawdown of forces, state-led investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Reneé Good, and an end to this campaign of retribution.” Walz has been an outspoken critic of Operation Metro Surge and the government’s handling of the two murders. His complaints about the investigations come after the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security refused to work with Minnesota officials to investigate the murders following the President’s accusations that Minnesota authorities are “crooked.” This coincides with accusations from Walz and others in the Democratic party that the recent string of ICE operations in Minnesota and other places like Maine are specific attacks to intimidate and disrupt Democrat-run states and cities.
Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey stated, “The drawdown and body-worn cameras are a step in the right direction, but 2,000 ICE officers still here is not de-escalation. My message to the White House has been consistent—Operation Metro Surge has been catastrophic for our residents and businesses. It needs to end immediately.” Frey has been very open about his desire for the complete removal of ICE from the city of Minneapolis. The measure for body-worn cameras was recently successfully achieved by congressional Democrats with the help of some Republicans. The reforms came in the form of a bill to temporarily prevent a government shutdown that extended the funding for DHS by two weeks.
An impending conflict over immigration enforcement is on the horizon as DHS funding expires on Feb. 14. Congressional Democrats are trying to strengthen the push to regain control over ICE agent actions.
With midterms around the corner, the Trump administration’s decision to remove 700 ICE agents comes as an attempt to prevent damage control on an issue that has public opinion quickly turning against the Republican Party and the Trump administration.