Trump border official announces end to Minnesota immigration enforcement surge

Tom Homan, the Trump administration's border czar, announced Thursday that the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota will end, saying President Donald Trump has approved his request to conclude the operation.

"I will also remain in Minnesota a little longer to oversee the drawdown, to ensure its success," Homan said during a news conference in Minneapolis on Thursday morning.

The operation, known as Operation Metro Surge, began in early December and deployed federal immigration officers to Minnesota in a concentrated enforcement push. According to officials, between 2,000 and 3,000 federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol were stationed in the state during the operation.

Homan said Minnesota has become "less of a sanctuary state" since local officials have cooperated more with federal immigration officers. He characterized the operation as a "great success," noting that officials in Minnesota have been able to "greatly reduce the number of targets" for immigration enforcement.

A significant reduction in the number of agents deployed to the state began last week, with further reductions expected to continue in the coming week, Homan said.

The enforcement surge sparked nationwide protests after two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents last month. The operation lasted more than two months in the state, which is governed by Democratic officials.