Immigration Operation Winds Down as Over 1,000 Federal Agents Leave Minnesota
Courtesy of CNN
By Leyah Jackson
Over 1,000 federal immigration agents have left Minnesota and more are expected to depart as part of the Trump administration’s drawdown of its immigration enforcement surge. Border Czar, Tom Homan, announced the conclusion of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota last Thursday, and described the drawdown as a key step of the operation's conclusion.
“We already removed well over 1,000 people, and as of Monday, Tuesday, we’ll remove several hundred more,” said Tom Homan Sunday. “We’ll get back to the original footprint.”
Earlier this month, 700 law enforcement personnel left Minnesota and around 2,000 agents remained in the state. The number was around 150 before the surge. Tim Walz said that he expected Operation Metro Surge to last "days, not weeks and months,” according to CBS.
The Department of Homeland Security said it was its largest immigration enforcement operation ever, but the crackdown came under increasing criticism as the situation grew unstable and protestors became more aggressive. The shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers brought widespread outrage from both citizens and policymakers.
“When [federal] agents use their power to gun down innocent Americans, it perpetuates pre-existing concerns that many citizens already have about the way law enforcement treat people in this country,” said fourth-year political science major Phadra Hyche.
A “small” security force is expected to stay in Minnesota for a short period to protect remaining immigration agents from agitators. It is unclear what the exact number of people on the security force will be, or which state the bulk of enforcement agents will be going to next.
“The idea of some federal agents remaining makes it clear that the government still prioritizes enforcement over safety for vulnerable communities. Even with fewer agents, their presence continues to signal surveillance, intimidation, and a threat to immigration families and black and brown neighborhoods…” said third-year political science major Richard Johnson.
