MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — More than 4,000 illegal aliens with criminal records have been arrested across Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as part of Operation Metro Surge, a high-intensity immigration enforcement initiative launched in late 2025. The milestone marks one of the largest interior immigration enforcement actions in U.S. history and underscores the federal government’s renewed emphasis on securing public safety and restoring the rule of law.
At a press briefing in early February, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt celebrated the achievement, noting that these arrests include individuals charged or convicted of violent offenses such as homicide, sexual assault, gang activity, and terrorist-linked conduct. The administration has framed the operation as a direct response to years of permissive immigration policies that allowed criminal aliens to flourish inside the United States.
“President Trump’s commonsense immigration enforcement policies are delivering the public safety results the American people demanded,” Leavitt said in a statement. “We will not surrender the President’s mission of removing criminal illegal aliens from our communities.”
The operation, ordered by the Trump administration, deployed thousands of ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents throughout the state – most heavily in the Twin Cities region. At its peak, roughly 3,000 federal agents were stationed in Minnesota, far above normal staffing levels.
Federal officials said their teams coordinated with local law enforcement and county jails to detain subjects while balancing civil liberties and public safety. According to DHS, the enhanced cooperation from Minnesota counties led to significantly more arrests being made before alleged offenders could be released back into communities.
Despite the success reported by federal authorities, Minnesota state officials have strongly criticized Operation Metro Surge, charging that it disrupted civil society and violated individual rights. Local mayors and the state attorney general labeled the operation an overreach that fractured trust between residents and law enforcement.
In one of the most controversial aspects of the operation, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by ICE agents during enforcement actions, igniting protests and legal challenges. While the deaths sparked intense debate about federal tactics, border proponents argue the primary focus must remain on removing criminal alien threats from American streets.
⚠️ X Post Reactions
📌 X — White House Press Secretary (@PressSec):
“4,000+ criminal illegal aliens removed from Minnesota streets under Operation Metro Surge. Public safety wins when federal law is enforced.” — Feb. 4, 2026
📌 X — Donald J. Trump (45th President):
“This is what securing our interior looks like — arrests of violent offenders who have no right to be here. We are restoring safety and accountability.” — Feb. 4, 2026
Federal officials also announced plans to expand the use of body cameras by agents operating in community settings, an intent aimed at increasing transparency and accountability during enforcement interactions. Nonetheless, the presence of heavily armed agents in residential neighborhoods has drawn sustained criticism.
Opposition to the surge remains anchored in Minnesota’s liberal political leadership. Democratic officials, including the state’s governor and city mayors, have called for a complete halt to the operation, citing what they describe as harm to immigrant families, economic disruption, and civil liberties concerns. These officials have filed legal challenges seeking injunctions against continued enforcement actions.
Still, federal courts have so far ruled in favor of continued enforcement. A federal judge denied a request by Minnesota officials to block the operation, stating that the administration has the authority to carry out immigration law enforcement within state boundaries.
The arrests represent a significant escalation in interior immigration enforcement, reflecting the broader policy priorities of the current federal administration. Beyond Minnesota, the strategy aligns with a nationwide push to detain and deport illegal aliens with criminal histories — a stance that polls show has bipartisan support among many American voters concerned with public safety and border security.
Federal authorities say they will continue arrests, deportations, and deterrence measures, emphasizing that criminal illegal aliens – regardless of locale or status – will face removal under U.S. law. Enhanced cooperation with state and local law enforcement has been cited as a key factor in driving the latest gains.
🚨 Local leaders who support strict enforcement argue that removing dangerous criminal elements from Minnesota streets will reduce crime, protect citizens, and deter future illegal migration. They praise Operation Metro Surge as a necessary corrective to past policy failures.
As the federal government transitions from the highest levels of operational deployment toward a sustained enforcement posture, the debate over the balance between safety and community trust continues. But in the eyes of immigration enforcement proponents, the 4,000-plus arrests stand as clear evidence of a strategy that places the rule of law and public protection at the forefront of national policy.
🔑 Keywords
-
Operation Metro Surge
-
ICE arrests 4000 Minnesota
-
Illegal alien criminals
-
Federal immigration enforcement
-
Trump immigration policy
-
Public safety arrests
-
Border security
-
Deportation operation
-
Homeland Security roundup