Operation Metro Surge Removes Over 4,000 Criminal Aliens From Minnesota
The White House confirmed Wednesday that Operation Metro Surge has resulted in the arrest and removal of more than 4,000 individuals identified as “criminal illegal aliens” from Minnesota. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the milestone, describing it as a critical step in the administration’s effort to restore public safety and dismantle criminal networks operating within the state. The federal enforcement campaign, which launched in late 2025, has concentrated heavily on the Twin Cities metropolitan area, mobilizing resources from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
According to administration officials, the operation specifically targeted non-citizens with prior criminal records, including convictions for homicide, sexual assault, and gang-related activities. Border Czar Tom Homan stated that the surge was necessary to address what the administration characterized as failures by local “sanctuary” jurisdictions to cooperate with federal immigration detainers. Homan noted that due to recent shifts in cooperation from certain county facilities and the achievement of key operational targets, the Department of Homeland Security would begin withdrawing approximately 700 federal agents from the region effective immediately.
The operation has faced substantial opposition from local leadership and community organizations. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have publicly criticized the scale and tactics of the federal deployment, arguing that the surge has undermined community trust and disrupted essential services. Legal challenges have also emerged, including a lawsuit filed by local school districts and teachers’ unions alleging that the proximity of enforcement activities to schools has caused significant disruptions to student learning and attendance. Civil rights advocacy groups have further objected to the operation, raising concerns over the alleged detention of U.S. citizens and the broader impact on the region’s civil society. Despite these objections, the White House maintains that the operation will continue until its public safety objectives are fully met.
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