Tom Homan, the White House "border czar," said that the operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focused in the Twin Cities area had been "successful" and resulted in more than 4,000 arrests.
“The surge is leaving Minnesota safer,” the AP quoted Homan.
“I’ll say it again, it’s less of a sanctuary state for criminals.”
Governor Tim Walz urged residents on Feb. 12 to "remain vigilant" in the coming days as immigration officials prepare to leave. He called the operation an "unnecessary, unjustified, and in many cases unconstitutional intrusions into our state."
"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," Walz said.
Homan warned that operations would continue elsewhere. "President Trump promised mass deportation, and that is what is going to happen in this country," he said.
The operation has been marked by deadly confrontations and protests. On Jan. 7, an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis. On Jan. 24, federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old nursing assistant Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The FBI has declined to investigate any potential wrongdoing by the federal officers in both cases.
On Jan. 29, ICE briefly detained former CNN anchor
Don Lemon as he was covering protests at a Minnesota church; a Los Angeles
court later ordered his release.