Border czar says the Minnesota immigration surge is over, but hundreds of special agents are staying behind to investigate this

Border czar Tom Homan announced that the massive immigration enforcement presence in Minnesota, known as Operation Metro Surge, is wrapping up, but he also confirmed that “hundreds of special agents” are staying put to continue crucial Department of Homeland Security investigations, signaling that the administration isn’t easing up on local enforcement actions, as reported by The Hill.

The agents remaining in Minnesota will be focusing on two major areas of investigation. First, they’re digging deep into fraud allegations connected to the state’s social services programs. Second, the special agents are continuing the investigation into the controversial protest that occurred at a church in St. Paul last month. That specific incident saw multiple arrests, including those of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort. As Homan put it plainly, “This is ending the surge, but we’re not going away.”

The decision to conclude the surge follows weeks of intense unrest in the state, which initially flared up after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. These tensions quickly spilled over into Washington D.C., where the conflict over immigration enforcement tactics has led to a major legislative standoff. Democrats are actively resisting efforts to fund the Department of Homeland Security, demanding new restrictions on how Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operate.

Homan is crystal clear about the administration’s plans, promising no rollback of policy despite the political pressure

With the deadline looming on February 13, Congress is facing a potential DHS shutdown. All but one Democrat, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted against advancing a full-year DHS spending bill on Thursday. This near-unanimous opposition effectively paves the way for a likely shutdown of the entire department. Border czar Homan clearly isn’t happy about this political maneuvering, and slammed Democrats for caring “more about politics than the safety and security of this nation.”

If you think a DHS shutdown means a pause in immigration enforcement, you’d be totally wrong. Here’s the kicker: ICE is already financially secure. President Trump signed the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act last summer, which secured a whopping $75 billion for ICE operations through 2029. That’s a massive amount of funding that guarantees continuity. This means, as Homan stated, “ICE has all the money they want to keep doing the job.”

While a shutdown would mean Border Patrol and ICE staff wouldn’t be getting paid, Homan confirmed they would “continue to do operations.” A shutdown would halt critical services provided by the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Secret Service, among others.

“And let me be clear, mass deportations will continue, and we’re not rolling back,” Homan continued. “President Trump promised mass deportations, and that’s exactly what the American people are going to get.” He also issued a firm warning to those in Minnesota, pointing out that since over 800 flights land daily in St. Paul, if the federal government needs to return in force, they absolutely “will come back.”