Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is demanding that the federal government pay for damage caused by Operation Metro Surge. The state is already discussing help for companies.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has insisted that the federal government must pay “for what it destroyed” during Operation Metro Surge, which Border Commissioner Tom Homan declared over on Thursday and announced the government would scale back its presence in the state.
“The federal government must pay for what it destroyed here,” Walz said at a news conference after Homan’s announcement. “There will be accountability for the things that happened, but one of them is the incredible and immense costs that have been borne by the people of this state. The federal government must take responsibility: You can’t just break things and then leave without doing something about it.” However, Walz emphasized that he would not “hold his breath that the federal government will do the right thing,” and instead is counting on his state to take the lead in the recovery effort.
ICE operation in Minnesota: Shooting of Good and Pretti led to nationwide protests
Table of Contents
- ICE operation in Minnesota: Shooting of Good and Pretti led to nationwide protests
- Trump relies on toughness: ICE and National Guard in action – raids, protests and riots
- “ICE will continue to identify, arrest and deport illegal aliens.”
- ICE pulls out of Minnesota: “They left us with a lot of unanswered questions”
- Reactions to the ICE withdrawal from Minnesota
Officials have described Operation Metro Surge as the largest modern deployment of U.S. immigration authorities in a single state, which local leaders complained had overwhelmed local courts while sparking mass protests and stoking heated debates over constitutional rights and federal-local cooperation. The operation sparked widespread outrage after federal officers fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, drawing bipartisan criticism and legal challenges from state and local leaders.
The fatal shootings of Good and Pretti led to nationwide protests and congressional oversight; some Republicans turned away from the administration over the rhetoric and tactics, highlighting the political risks associated with aggressive enforcement strategies.
“ICE will continue to identify, arrest and deport illegal aliens.”
Walz said earlier this week he expected immigration raids in his state to end within days after speaking with Homan and President Donald Trump. Homan, however, made this final on Thursday when he stated at a press conference that the operation was ending. “I have suggested, and President Trump has agreed, that this surge operation be ended,” Homan told reporters at a news conference. “Operation Metro Surge ends.”
“ICE will continue to identify, arrest and deport illegal aliens who pose a risk to public safety – as we have done for years – and our officers will carry out these tasks with professionalism, integrity and compassion, as we have for years,” Homan added. Walz emphasized at a news conference after Homan’s announcement that the administration’s decision to end its federal surge does not end the conflict between the state and federal government. He highlighted the importance of making reparations for the damage caused to the communities and residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul during the operation.
ICE pulls out of Minnesota: “They left us with a lot of unanswered questions”
“We are … cautiously optimistic, as we have said, that this wave of untrained, aggressive federal agents will leave Minnesota, and I guess they will go wherever they go, but the fact is that they have left us with deep damage, generational trauma,” Walz said. “They left us with economic ruin in some cases. They left us with a lot of unanswered questions.” Walz has indicated that the state will provide a range of options for small businesses to recover from the economic damage caused by Operation Metro Surge, including a relief fund that the state legislature will discuss in the coming days.
As part of Operation Metro Surge, the government deployed around 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to deport migrants in Minnesota, despite opposition and condemnation from Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. However, after the fatal shootings of Good and Pretti, tensions escalated in the state and across the country, and the government decided to send Homan to take direct charge of the situation. Homan, who relieved Gregory Bovino of his duties, took a more low-key approach to the operation, which is now wrapping up just two weeks later. While the government is scaling back most of the ICE presence in the state, a small federal presence will remain.
Reactions to the ICE withdrawal from Minnesota
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in an emailed comment Newsweek: “During the course of surge operations in Minnesota, law enforcement officers removed thousands of dangerous, criminal illegal aliens from local communities. The Trump Administration looks forward to continuing with increased local cooperation to keep Americans safe.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, on X: “They thought they could break us, but love for our neighbors and the will to persevere can survive an occupation. These Minneapolis patriots show that it’s not just about resistance – standing with our neighbors is deeply American. This operation was disastrous for our neighbors and businesses, and now it’s time for a major comeback. We will show our immigrant residents the same commitment and resilience in this reopening, and I am confident the entire country will stand with us will as we move forward.”
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, on X: “The people of Minnesota stood together, looked ICE in the eye and never flinched.”
Far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer on X: “Sad that Minnesota is full of Somali Muslim invaders who need to be deported. Our country is overrun by Muslim terrorists, most of whom live in Ilhan Omar’s constituency in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We should not cave to the left on the issue of mass deportations.”
Border Commissioner Tom Homan at a press conference on Thursday: “Detaining threats to public safety in the security of a prison should not be a partisan issue. Releasing threats to public safety back into the public is simply stupid… I hope Congress takes action against sanctuary cities and sanctuary states.” (This article was created in cooperation with newsweek.com)
date: 2026-02-13 15:07:00