United States Orders Withdrawal of 700 Immigration Agents in Minnesota After Weeks of Social Tension
Minneapolis, Minnesota — February 4, 2026
The U.S. government announced Wednesday the immediate withdrawal of 700 federal immigration agents deployed in the state of Minnesota, a significant shift in the immigration enforcement strategy that had generated tensions, protests, and clashes in the region.
The measure was confirmed by Tom Homan, appointed by the White House as the “border czar,” during a press conference held in Minneapolis. Homan indicated that the reduction in personnel comes after weeks of negotiations with state and local authorities, who agreed to cooperate with federal agencies by handing over arrested immigrants directly from jails, instead of allowing massive field operations in the streets.
A Controversial Deployment and “Unprecedented” Cooperation
Several weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had deployed nearly 3,000 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Minnesota as part of the so-called Operation Metro Surge, considered by the federal government as its “largest immigration operation ever conducted.”
Homan described the cooperation between the different levels of government as “unprecedented,” which, in his opinion, reduced the need for such a large presence of agents on the ground. However, he did not offer a date for a possible complete conclusion of the operation.
Tensions, Protests, and Deadly Confrontations
The withdrawal comes amid a climate of sustained social tension in Minnesota, particularly in the Twin Cities—Minneapolis and St. Paul—where immigration raids generated mass protests, following a couple of tragic incidents that shocked the community.
In recent weeks, two U.S. citizens made headlines after being killed in confrontations with federal agents: Renée Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom died in situations that intensified public criticism of the federal government's immigration tactics and sparked street demonstrations. The protests, which even included a widespread strike in Minnesota at the end of January, reflected the discontent of activists, community organizations, and workers—including unions—who demanded the immediate suspension of ICE operations in the state and an investigation into the violent incidents.
Continuity of Federal Immigration Policy
Despite the reduction in agents, federal authorities have made it clear that immigration enforcement actions will not end and that approximately 2,000 agents will remain in the state, conducting targeted operations to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.
The president himself, when questioned by national media, acknowledged that this decision was in response to the need to “perhaps take a softer approach,” but reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening mass deportation policies and immigration enforcement within the United States.
Political Reactions and Demands for Change
The federal decision was met with criticism and demands for further action from state authorities and legislators. The governor of Minnesota and local leaders have called not only for a faster withdrawal of agents but also for independent investigations into the shootings that triggered the protests, as well as structural changes in how immigration policies are implemented in urban communities.
In Washington, D.C., some Democratic lawmakers have seized the moment to call for broader reforms to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement system, including limits on the actions of officers and greater legal protections for arrests in local communities.
United States Orders Withdrawal of 700 Immigration Agents in Minnesota After Weeks of Social Tension
Minneapolis, Minnesota — February 4, 2026
The U.S. government announced Wednesday the immediate withdrawal of 700 federal immigration agents deployed in the state of Minnesota, a significant shift in the immigration enforcement strategy that had generated tensions, protests, and clashes in the region.
The measure was confirmed by Tom Homan, appointed by the White House as the “border czar,” during a press conference held in Minneapolis. Homan indicated that the reduction in personnel comes after weeks of negotiations with state and local authorities, who agreed to cooperate with federal agencies by handling over arrested immigrants directly from jails, instead of allowing massive field operations in the streets.
A Controversial Deployment and “Unprecedented” Cooperation
Several weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had deployed nearly 3,000 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Minnesota as part of the so-called Operation Metro Surge, considered by the federal government as its “largest immigration operation ever conducted.”
Homan described the cooperation between the different levels of government as “unprecedented,” which, in his opinion, reduced the need for such a large presence of agents on the ground. However, he did not offer a date for a possible complete conclusion of the operation.
Tensions, Protests, and Deadly Confrontations
The withdrawal comes amid a climate of sustained social tension in Minnesota, particularly in the Twin Cities—Minneapolis and St. Paul—where immigration raids generated mass protests, following a couple of tragic incidents that shocked the community.
In recent weeks, two U.S. Citizens made headlines after being killed in confrontations with federal agents: Renée Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom died in situations that intensified public criticism of the federal government's immigration tactics and sparked street demonstrations. The protests, which even included a widespread strike in Minnesota at the end of January, reflected the discontent of activists, community organizations, and workers—including unions—who demanded the immediate suspension of ICE operations in the state and an investigation into the violent incidents.
Continuity of Federal Immigration Policy
Despite the reduction in agents, federal authorities have made it clear that immigration enforcement actions will not end and that approximately 2,000 agents will remain in the state, conducting targeted operations to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.
The president himself, when questioned by national media, acknowledged that this decision was in response to the need to “perhaps take a softer approach,” but reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening mass deportation policies and immigration enforcement within the United States.
Political Reactions and Demands for Change
The federal decision was met with criticism and demands for further action from state authorities and legislators. The governor of Minnesota and local leaders have called not only for a faster withdrawal of agents but also for independent investigations into the shootings that triggered the protests, as well as structural changes in how immigration policies are implemented in urban communities.
In Washington, D.C., some Democratic lawmakers have seized the moment to call for broader reforms to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement system, including limits on the actions of officers and greater legal protections for arrests in local communities.
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