President Donald Trump’s administration has decided to halt a controversial immigration operation in Minnesota, which had sparked widespread protests and national outrage following the tragic deaths of two US citizens. The operation involved thousands of federal agents, including officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who carried out extensive raids and arrests under the guise of targeting criminals.
During a briefing outside Minneapolis, Trump official Tom Homan announced the conclusion of the operation, stating that there has already been a significant reduction in activity this week, with further scaling back planned for the coming week. The operation had incited tense protests in the Minneapolis area, with the recent fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti intensifying criticism of the tactics employed.
Homan hinted at the possibility of relocating the officers to another area but did not provide specific details, leading to speculation about the next potential target city. Despite the reassignment of officers to their home stations or other locations in the country, enforcement of immigration laws will continue, as stated by Homan.
President Trump’s hardline stance on illegal immigration played a significant role in his 2024 election campaign. However, the operation in Minnesota, characterized by videos of violent masked agents and reports of individuals being targeted based on weak evidence, contributed to a sharp decline in the president’s approval ratings. The detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos on January 20 further fueled public outrage.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the ICE operation in his city, describing it as “catastrophic” for residents and businesses, emphasizing the need for a positive recovery moving forward.