The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported Wednesday that federal law enforcement has arrested more than 4,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota since launching Operation Metro Surge in late 2025. The operation, which is now drawing down, has focused on the Twin Cities and other regions of the state.
The initiative, part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to expand interior immigration enforcement, prioritizes individuals with serious criminal histories. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that officers have made more than 4,000 arrests of illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists in Minnesota since Operation Metro Surge began.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the effort, calling it a direct result of “President Trump’s commonsense immigration enforcement policies.” She noted that over 4,000 dangerous criminal illegal aliens have been arrested in Minnesota since Operation Metro began, adding that President Trump is reversing damage caused by Democrats who “opened our borders and allowed vicious criminals to invade our communities.”
Federal immigration enforcement intensified in December 2025 after DHS announced large-scale ICE operations in the state amid widespread coverage of endemic Somali fraud. These actions resulted in hundreds of arrests, including about 500 illegal immigrants taken into custody in a single wave.
The expanded federal presence sparked protests backed by Governor Tim Walz (D) and other state and local officials. Demonstrations disrupted ICE operations and church services, leading to two deadly confrontations between protesters and federal agents.
Border Czar Tom Homan announced this week that the federal footprint in the Twin Cities will be reduced, with approximately 700 officers set to leave the area. He cited increased cooperation from local jurisdictions as the reason for the drawdown: “We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets.”
