(Minneapolis, February 12, 2026) — Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan announced the end of surge operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to reporting by The New York Times.
Homan, now a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, stated that ICE will cease its targeted enforcement efforts in Minneapolis, shifting resources elsewhere.
- Former ICE Director Tom Homan announced the end of surge operations in Minneapolis.
- The decision involves reallocating ICE resources from the city.
- Homan cited a decrease in the number of sanctuary policies as a factor in the decision.
Homan made the announcement during a press call, stating that the surge operations, which began in February 2023, were designed to target individuals with serious criminal records, according to the Times. He indicated that the operations were successful in removing individuals who posed a threat to public safety.
Shift in Enforcement Strategy
The decision to end the surge operations comes as Minneapolis has seen a reduction in what Homan described as “sanctuary policies,” the Times reported. He stated that the city is now more cooperative with ICE, making it easier to identify and detain individuals who are in the country illegally and have committed crimes.
Homan explained that ICE resources will be redirected to other areas where they are needed most, focusing on cities and states that continue to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts. He did not specify which locations would be prioritized.
“Minneapolis has changed. They’re not as hostile to ICE as they were a couple years ago,” Homan said, according to the Times.
The end of the surge operations in Minneapolis marks a shift in ICE’s enforcement strategy, prioritizing areas with less cooperation and focusing on cities that have adopted policies perceived as hindering immigration enforcement.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The New York Times and added independent analysis and context.
