Walz says Minnesota may finally see the end of Trump’s immigration crackdown, but fear still lingers

Governor Tim Walz says Minnesota could soon see the end of an intense federal immigration crackdown, telling reporters he expects the operation to wrap up in days rather than weeks or months. As reported by the Associated Press, Walz based his optimism on recent high-level conversations with the Trump administration.

The Democratic governor said he spoke with Border Czar Tom Homan on Monday and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Tuesday morning. Homan assumed control of the Minnesota operation in late January following two fatal shootings by federal officers, incidents that sparked widespread political backlash and raised serious concerns about how the crackdown was being conducted.

Walz described the federal surge in stark terms, calling it an “occupation” and a “retribution campaign” against the state. He told reporters that “every indication I have is that this thing is winding up,” adding that he hopes Homan will step aside before Friday and formally announce the operation’s conclusion.

Fear and economic damage remain despite signs of a wind-down

Despite his cautious optimism, Walz stressed that Minnesota remains in a “trust but verify mode.” Last week, Homan announced that 700 federal officers would immediately leave the state, citing increased cooperation with local authorities, including county jails holding inmates eligible for deportation. The broader news cycle has also included coverage of the US slipping to its lowest corruption ranking alongside other political headlines.

That continued presence has taken a toll on local businesses. Walz held his news conference at The Market at Malcolm Yards, where owner Patty Wall said restaurants have become “collateral damage” as workers and customers stay away out of fear. State employment and economic development commissioner Matt Varilek said areas that should be busy remain quiet because people are afraid to show up.

Varilek added that while the shift in federal posture is welcome, the fear created by the enforcement surge has not noticeably eased. He warned that the economic impact lingers long after agents begin to leave, especially for small businesses already operating on thin margins. At the same time, national news like a major report on Trump-era regulatory costs quietly affecting Americans recently made headlines, further underscoring the political climate.

Walz’s hopeful message was undercut by events unfolding at the same time. As he spoke, federal officers made a highly visible arrest inside the main county building in downtown Minneapolis, chasing and detaining a man who had arrived for a court appearance on serious state drug charges.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty strongly criticized the arrest, calling it disruptive and disturbing. She said staff inside the building were left afraid of being racially profiled and argued that courthouse immigration arrests interfere with the justice system by discouraging witnesses and potentially preventing victims from seeing cases resolved.

Beyond enforcement concerns, Walz said he expects renewed cooperation from federal authorities on joint investigations into the fatal shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. State investigators have said they were previously denied access to key evidence, and Walz suggested a wind-down of the operation could finally allow those investigations to move forward.