The Trump administration maintained its immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota despite growing protests and lawsuits over recent fatal shootings. Operation Metro Surge had deployed thousands of federal immigration agents to the Twin Cities, aiming to intensify immigration crackdowns in the area.
On January 27, Donald Trump downplayed reports that his administration planned to significantly alter these enforcement activities. He stated that no major policy changes had occurred in Minnesota, countering expectations from local officials and community groups demanding a pullback.
Trump administration maintained the Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota
Tom Homan, appointed as the White House adviser on immigration and border control issues, traveled to Minnesota to meet with state and city leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Although these discussions suggested a possible shift toward de-escalation, large-scale federal immigration enforcement efforts persisted immediately following the meetings on January 28.
The increased federal presence began after a series of fatal shootings tied to immigration enforcement encounters, which sparked public outcry and lawsuits accusing officers of excessive force. Community activists and civil rights organizations criticized the operation, calling for its suspension.
Minnesota state law includes protections limiting immigration enforcement near schools and safeguarding student privacy, as outlined in legislative measures such as AB 49 and SB 98. These laws complicate the coordination between local authorities and federal immigration agencies.
Immigration enforcement
Federal officials insisted that they operate within the bounds of existing laws while pursuing their enforcement objectives. The federal operation remained contentious amid efforts by local authorities to balance immigration enforcement with protecting community relations and public safety.
The situation in Minnesota unfolded against a broader national context of heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The appointment of Homan signaled a strategic focus on intensified immigration control, even as it faced resistance in cities implementing sanctuary policies or otherwise limiting cooperation with federal agents.
As of late January, neither the federal government nor local officials announced concrete steps to end Operation Metro Surge, keeping immigration enforcement a central and divisive issue in Minnesota politics and law enforcement.
