Dems Try To Credit ICE Agitators With Ending Trump’s ‘Operation Metro Surge’ In Minnesota

Democrats in Minnesota want the public to believe that ICE Watch groups that impeded federal agents from arresting illegal immigrants forced President Donald Trump to end “Operation Metro Surge,” his massive immigration sweeps across the state.

After White House border czar Tom Homan announced the operation would end Thursday, several Democratic officials in the state pushed the narrative that anti-ICE agitators were successful in their efforts and forced the withdrawal.

Notably, Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last month in Minneapolis, was reportedly a member of an ICE watch group. Alex Pretti, the man shot a few weeks later by Border Patrol, was also an anti-ICE activist who was seen on video kicking in a fed’s taillight before spitting on one of the officers.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar came out Thursday to credit anti-ICE demonstrators, while also saying the work must continue.

“Minnesotans stood together, stared down ICE, and never blinked. Our state has shown the world how to protect our democracy and take care of our neighbors,” Klobuchar said.

She continued: “ICE withdrawing from Minnesota is just the beginning. We need accountability for the lives lost and the extraordinary abuses of power at the hands of ICE agents, and we must see a complete overhaul of the agency.”

Most of the 3,000 federal agents deployed to the Twin Cities will soon return home, while the roughly 150 feds who were there before the operation started will remain. Additionally, the agents tasked with investigating fraud cases and others deployed to crack down on anti-ICE agitators will also stay, Homan said.

(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)

Several members of the Minneapolis City Council also concurred with Klobuchar.

“Our community came together and pushed back an occupation of our city by the authoritarian Trump regime. A drawdown of this magnitude is something for our neighbors to be proud of. But we need ICE fully out of our city, not just reduced,” Aisha Chughtai, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, said.

“We need to stay organized and vigilant,” Chughtai said. “As a community, I hope we keep our arms wrapped around each other. The devastation caused by Operation Metro Surge cannot be quantified. We will need each other on the long road of recovery and healing ahead. Recovery starts with real transparency from all the individuals involved in this agreement. Minnesotans deserve transparency to be able to have accountability.”

Jason Chavez, Minneapolis City Council Member, called Homan’s announcement a “victory,” led by “the city’s residents, whose resilience, strength, and dedication led to the announcement that ‘Operation Metro Surge’ will end soon.”

“But we must not stop until ICE is completely abolished, and no more families are separated. I hope you’ll join me in continuing to carry the whistle of resistance, as our work is not done. I am still asking the community to remain cautious and vigilant until we can confirm what this truly means. We are still mourning, demanding justice, and we will never forget,” Chavez said.

One of the most prominent ICE watch organizations in Minnesota, Defend the 612, also took a victory lap.

“Minnesota is a state where neighbors have chosen to keep our neighbors safe. Minneapolis has become safer because tens of thousands of neighbors united together in common purpose to openly and courageously respond to the violent and immoral ICE surge day after day. At our schools, our hospitals, on our streets, and on our blocks,” Andrew Fahlstrom, an organizer with the group, said.

“If violent abductors truly leave town, having failed to intimidate or stop our community, the 612 has shown what it takes to truly become a Sanctuary City, in a Sanctuary State. We are all incredibly proud of what we continue to do together and build together. Nothing will ever stop the people of Minneapolis from protecting our neighbors.”

Homan said the decision to draw down the federal presence in Minnesota was motivated by “unprecedented” cooperation from local authorities, who have agreed to hand over illegal immigrants set to be released from jails.

The former ICE chief, however, made clear that the withdrawal doesn’t mean “we are backing down from immigration enforcement or mass deportations.”