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A top US official has announced the end of a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

Getting into it: During a press conference in Minneapolis, border czar Tom Homan announced that Operation Metro Surge was coming to an end. According to Homan, he “proposed, and President Trump concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” adding that a “significant drawdown” of federal immigration officers was already underway and would continue into the following week. He said the operation successfully reduced threats to public safety, stating,“Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals,” and added that ICE would continue enforcement efforts through “targeted enforcement operations based on reasonable suspicion.”

Homan also cited fewer calls for quick-response force teams as a sign that violent protests had decreased, noting, “That is a good thing. That is a win for everybody, not just for the safety of law enforcement officers. It’s a win for this community.”

According to ICE, 4,000 arrests had been made during the operation. Homan also mentioned the recovery of 3,364 unaccompanied migrant children and touted arrests of individuals with convictions for sexual misconduct and other violent crimes. Despite this, critics pointed out that many detained individuals had no criminal records.

State and city leaders responded with a mix of relief and condemnation. Governor Tim Walz called the drawdown the beginning of “a long road to recovery,” saying, “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin in some cases. It’s going to be hard for many of you to get back the trust.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey compared the surge to a military occupation and praised residents’ resilience, stating, “They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation.”

The announcement came in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two anti-ICE demonstrators killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Their deaths fueled massive protests and national scrutiny of the operation’s conduct. Homan was sent to Minnesota shortly afterward to de-escalate tensions and took over leadership of the operation from Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.