BY Rosemary
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday he believes the federal government’s intensified immigration enforcement operation in the state is nearing its conclusion and could wrap up within days, following direct conversations with senior officials in the Trump administration.
Speaking at a news conference in Minneapolis, the Democratic governor said he spoke Monday with Tom Homan, the administration’s border enforcement chief, and again Tuesday morning with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Walz said those discussions left him cautiously optimistic that the large-scale federal presence that has drawn criticism across the state is being scaled back.
“We’re very much in a trust-but-verify mode,” Walz said, adding that he expects clearer direction from the administration within the next day or two. He described the enforcement surge as having functioned like an “occupation” and a “retribution campaign” against Minnesota, language that reflects the deep political and social tensions surrounding the operation.
Homan assumed control of the Minnesota enforcement effort in late January, following the second fatal shooting involving federal officers and amid mounting backlash from state and local officials who questioned both the scope and oversight of the operation. Those shootings intensified scrutiny of federal tactics and sharpened calls for greater transparency and coordination with state investigators.
Walz said he was encouraged by recent signals from Washington that the operation is winding down, though he acknowledged the situation remains fluid.
“Every indication I have right now is that this thing is coming to an end,” he said. “But I also recognize that things can change.”
The governor said he hopes Homan will make a public announcement before the end of the week confirming the drawdown of federal personnel.
“It would be my expectation that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this is done, and that they’re bringing this down — not in weeks or months, but in days,” Walz said.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Walz’s remarks.
Walz said he has no reason to doubt Homan’s statement last week that 700 federal immigration officers would be pulled out of Minnesota immediately. However, the governor noted that even with that reduction, roughly 2,300 federal officers would still remain deployed across the state. At the time, Homan attributed the drawdown to what he described as increased cooperation with local jails and law enforcement agencies, reducing the need for such a large federal footprint.
The governor also said he expects improved cooperation from federal authorities on joint investigations into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed by federal officers during the enforcement surge. Walz did not provide specifics, but said the lack of access to evidence and information in those cases has been a major source of friction between state investigators and federal agencies.
Beyond law enforcement concerns, Walz used the news conference to highlight what he described as the significant economic damage caused by the enforcement operation. He chose to speak at The Market at Malcolm Yards, a popular Minneapolis food hall, to underscore the impact on local businesses.
Patty Wall, one of the owners, said restaurants and food-service businesses have become unintended casualties of the crackdown, as fear among workers and customers has sharply reduced foot traffic.
Matt Varilek, Minnesota’s commissioner of employment and economic development, said the food hall would normally be crowded but has struggled in recent weeks as people stay away.
“It is good news that the posture appears to be changing at the federal level,” Varilek said. “But this really is a trust-but-verify situation. The fear that’s been created hasn’t disappeared, and I haven’t seen much evidence yet that it’s easing.”
Walz echoed that concern, saying that even if the enforcement surge ends quickly, rebuilding trust and restoring economic confidence will take time. He said the state will continue pressing federal officials for clarity, accountability and cooperation as Minnesota looks to move past a period that he said has left deep scars in many communities.
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