Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Surge in Minnesota Ends Amidst Controversy and Declining Approval
The heightened immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, initiated by the Trump administration, is drawing to a close, according to President Trump’s border tsar, Tom Homan. This decision comes after months of increased federal presence and a series of controversial incidents, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. Citizens by immigration officers, and a concurrent dip in President Trump’s approval ratings on immigration policy.
Operation Metro Surge: A Shift in Strategy
The operation, dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” saw thousands of officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed to the Minneapolis, and St. Paul area beginning in December 2025. Homan announced a drawdown of 700 agents last week, leaving approximately 2,000 officers in place, and has now stated the total withdrawal will continue in the coming week . A “small footprint” of personnel will remain to oversee the transition back to local field offices and monitor for potential unrest .
Homan reported that over 4,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested during the surge, including individuals with convictions for serious crimes . He characterized the operation as a “great success,” noting increased cooperation between federal agents and local law enforcement regarding protesters and the notification of ICE regarding release dates of individuals sought for deportation .
Controversy and Public Reaction
The surge was met with widespread protests, fueled by the deaths of Renee Great, a mother of three, on January 7, 2026, and Alex Loansan, an ICU nurse, on January 24, 2026, both shot by federal agents in Minneapolis . These incidents sparked national outrage and scrutiny of ICE tactics.
An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted February 12-17, 2026, revealed that President Trump’s approval rating on immigration had fallen to a new low for his second term, with 58% disapproving and 40% approving . This represents an 18-percentage-point drop and mirrors ratings from July 2019 .
Despite the declining approval, the poll indicated that 38% of Americans still trust Trump more than congressional Democrats to handle immigration, whereas 34% trust Democrats more and 24% trust neither .
Shifting Public Opinion on ICE
The poll also revealed growing opposition to ICE’s tactics and expanded operations. A majority (53%) of Americans oppose ICE’s expanded operations, up from 46% in October . By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans oppose the tactics ICE is using to enforce immigration laws (62% to 31%) .
While a slim majority (50%) support deporting all undocumented immigrants, this figure has decreased from 56% in 2024 and 51% in February 2025 . Opposition to abolishing ICE remains at 50%, with strong partisan divides: 70% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, while 80% of Republicans oppose it .
Concerns Over Federal Authority
A significant majority of Americans believe that federal law enforcement should obtain approval from a judge before forcibly entering someone’s home, rather than relying solely on approval from a federal agency .
Minnesota’s Response and National Implications
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed cautious optimism about the drawdown of federal agents, while acknowledging the “deep damage, generational trauma, and economic ruin” caused by the surge . The situation in Minnesota has resonated nationally, with a majority of Americans expressing concern that federal immigration enforcement agents could arrest or detain someone they know .
The poll also indicated support for replacing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem by a margin of 44% to 23% .