The ICE operation also resulted in more than 4,000 arrests, Tom Homan says.
Border czar Tom Homan said Thursday that thousands of unaccompanied alien children were located in a multi-monthlong operation in Minnesota as he also confirmed that the federal government would be winding down its enforcement operation in the city.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have located 3,364 missing unaccompanied children in the Minneapolis-area operation that was announced by federal officials on Dec. 1, 2025, said Homan in a news conference.
Those were children who “the last Administration lost, and weren’t even looking for,” Homan said before crediting President Donald Trump’s administration for the operation.
“The Twin Cities, and Minnesota in general, are and will continue to be much safer for the communities here because of what we have accomplished under President Trump’s leadership,” Homan said in announcing the end of the operation.
The ICE operation also resulted in more than 4,000 arrests, Homan said, calling it a success. He also said a small number of personnel will stay in Minneapolis for “a period of time.”
But ultimately, he said, “I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation [has] concluded.” A significant drawdown already started last week, he added.
The move to draw down the number of agents from the city comes weeks after two demonstrators were shot and killed by agents in January, prompting national debate over the administration’s immigration operations. The most recent shooting prompted Trump to send Homan to the state to have talks with local Democratic officials, who have been largely critical of its efforts.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz urged residents Thursday to remain vigilant in the coming days as immigration officers prepare to leave. He called the operation an “unnecessary, unwarranted and in many cases unconstitutional assault on our state.”
“It’s going to be a long road,” Walz told a news conference. “Minnesotans are decent, caring loving neighbors and they’re also some of the toughest people you’ll find. And we’re in this as long as it takes.”
Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement in the wake of Homan’s announcement, said that deportation efforts in the city led to an economic slowdown.
“This operation has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses, and now it’s time for a great comeback,” he said. “We will show the same commitment to our immigrant residents and endurance in this reopening.”
Homan said in Thursday’s news conference that he intends to stay in Minnesota to oversee the agent drawdown. Last week, he confirmed that 700 agents would be sent home and credited cooperation from local officials as one reason why.
