More than 1,000 federal agents have already left Minnesota, says border czar

Star Tribune staff, Star Tribune on Feb 15, 2026

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As scores of federal immigration agents leave the state and Operation Metro Surge winds down, Minnesotans are taking stock of what has happened and what comes next.

On Sunday morning’s “Face the Nation” on CBS, White House border czar Tom Homan said more than 1,000 federal officers have already left the state. And hundreds more are expected to exit on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, protesters continue to stand outside the Whipple Federal Building, where ICE operations are headquartered in the Twin Cities.

As the drawdown continues, Minnesota’s leaders and residents are assessing the impact of the aggressive immigration actions of the past few months.

“It’s good news that it seems that agents will be leaving, and at the same time they are leaving a pretty huge wave of economic devastation in their wake,” said Whittier Alliance Executive Director Anna Schmitz.

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