STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday (February 12) that a significant drawdown of immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota is underway and he has proposed that the surge there should conclude.

Under Operation Metro Surge, Trump had deployed about 3,000 armed immigration agents by the end of January to deport migrants in Minnesota, focused on Minneapolis, its biggest city.

"I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude," Homan told reporters at a press conference.

A week ago, Homan announced that about 700 immigration agents would be withdrawn. He said on Thursday that many of the remaining agents deployed from other states would be sent home in the coming week, citing in part what he called "unprecedented" coordination with local law enforcement agencies in Minnesota.

The deportation sweeps have been staunchly opposed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, and other elected officials in the state. The agents, usually dressed in face masks and military-style camouflage gear, have repeatedly drawn angry protests from Minneapolis residents, who have blown whistles and used their cellphones to record video of the agents.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Minnesota ICE drawdown underway and surge should end, Trump's border czar says

VIDEO SHOWS: BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN SPEAKING TO REPORTERS DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT AND SHOT LIST

SHOWS: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. TOM HOMAN-BORDER CZAR ENTERING ROOM

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM HOMAN, BORDER CZAR SAYING:

"With that, and success that has been made arresting public safety threats and other priorities since this surge operation began, as well as the unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement, I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operations conclude. A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue to the next week. 3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM HOMAN, BORDER CZAR SAYING:

I'm not going to remove everybody out of the safety of our officers, but like I said, Operation Metro Surge is ending, and in the next week we're going to deploy the officers here in detail back to their home stations or other areas that country are needed. But we're gonna continue to enforce immigration law, that's what American people voted for, but it has to be a priority of criminals. And look, I hear all the hate"

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM HOMAN, BORDER CZAR SAYING:

"Prioritizing national security threats and public safety risks makes sense. I'll continue to say over and over again, if you are here in the country legally, you are not exempt from our immigration laws. If we encounter you, we'll take appropriate enforcement action. But those that say we are backing down from immigration enforcement or the promise of mass deportations, you are simply wrong. Look at the data. Record number of arrests and deportations under President Trump's first year. And we'll continue that effort. Prioritizing public safety threats and national security threats doesn't mean we'll forget about everybody else. We will take action on everybody else! That's just a stone-cold fact.

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM HOMAN, BORDER CZAR SAYING:

"During the search operation, ICE has not arrested anybody inside a hospital. We have not arrested anybody inside of a school, an elementary school. We have no arrested anybody in a church. As a matter of fact, the only ones that disrespected the sanctuary of a church were the agitators that have been arrested and prosecuted and so far we have 9 of them. However, those little cases are not off the table. I said them day one. There's no sanctuary for a significant public safety threat or national security threat. But as far as those stories about ICE going into churches arresting people in hospitals, it simply has not happened. And if you have a case where it happened, do you let me know? Because all the digging I've done here, I can't find a single one."