Federal officials say thousands of missing migrant children were found and more than 4,000 arrests made during multi-month Minneapolis operation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Border czar Tom Homan said Thursday that federal agents located 3,364 unaccompanied alien children during a multi-month enforcement surge in Minnesota, as he confirmed that the operation in the Minneapolis area is now being scaled back.
Speaking at a news conference, Homan said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents found thousands of minors who had been classified as missing after release into the United States.
Those were children who “the last Administration lost, and weren’t even looking for,” Homan said, crediting President Donald Trump’s administration for directing the effort.
The enforcement operation, announced by federal officials on Dec. 1, 2025, also resulted in more than 4,000 arrests, according to Homan, who described the initiative as a success.
“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 conclusion of the surge.
He added that a limited number of personnel will remain in Minneapolis “for a period of time,” but confirmed that the broader deployment is ending.
“I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation [has] concluded,” Homan said, noting that a significant drawdown began last week.
Last week, Homan confirmed that approximately 700 agents would be sent home and said cooperation from local officials contributed to the operation’s outcomes. He said he plans to remain in Minnesota to oversee the transition.
The drawdown comes weeks after two demonstrators were shot and killed by agents in January, an incident that sparked national debate over federal immigration enforcement. Following the most recent shooting, Trump dispatched Homan to Minnesota to meet with Democratic officials who have criticized the operation.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz urged residents to remain vigilant as agents depart, describing the enforcement effort as “an unnecessary, unwarranted and in many cases unconstitutional assault on our state.”
“It’s going to be a long road,” Walz said at 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.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement that deportation activities had slowed economic activity in the city.
“This operation has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses, and now it’s time for a great comeback,” Frey said. “We will show the same commitment to our immigrant residents and endurance in this reopening.”
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump emphasized mass deportations of illegal immigrants, particularly those with violent criminal records. Since taking office in January 2025, he has issued multiple executive orders addressing deportations and border security, including ending temporary deportation protections for several countries.
When the Department of Homeland Security announced the Minnesota operation in December, administration officials also said they would investigate what they described as widespread entitlement fraud. The announcement followed viral social media videos showing empty Minneapolis day care centers that had reportedly been receiving state and federal funds.
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