DHS silent on number of agents remaining in Twin Cities

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

In the wake of Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, it is still unclear how many federal immigration agents remain in the area.

In a statement to The Center Square, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said: “For operational security we do not disclose resources or numbers of personnel on the ground.”

At the time of this story’s publication, DHS had not responded to questions regarding if Operation Metro Surge had actually fully ended or if agents that were a part of it remain in Minnesota.

This comes as reports from local media outlets allege “very little has actually changed in Minnesota,” despite state and local officials like Gov. Tim Walz stating over a week ago that “Metro Surge is ending.”

White House border czar Tom Homan, who was sent to the Twin Cities to help manage the heated situation, announced Feb. 12 that the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota would end over the following week.

That came more than two months after DHS sent thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities in an effort called Operation Metro Surge.

During the peak of the operation, the Twin Cities faced nearly-constant public protests. The protests were heightened by the January deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both of whom were shot by federal agents. Today marks one month since Pretti died.

Homan said in his initial announcement that the pullback of federal forces had already begun.

“A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue to the next week,” he said. “Law enforcement officers drawn down from this surge operation will either return to the duty station or be assigned elsewhere.”

Even at that time, Democrats expressed hesitancy about Homan’s announcement.

“I won’t believe it until they’re actually gone,” said Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is running for U.S. Senate this year.

Republicans and the Trump administration have applauded Operation Metro Surge as a necessary way to address illegal immigrants living in Minnesota—especially criminals.

Homan said agents successfully apprehended more than 4,000 illegal immigrants, including murderers, sex offenders, national security threats, and gang members, throughout Minnesota as a part of the operation.