By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

Democrats are applauding White House border czar Tom Homan’s Thursday announcement that immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota will end next week.

The announcement comes more than two months after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities as part of Operation Metro Surge. More than 4,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested as a part of it.

Democrats have called for the operation to end since it began, citing reported economic impacts, fear within the migrant community and ongoing protests and riots.

“We are cautiously optimistic . . . that this surge of untrained, aggressive federal agents is going to leave Minnesota,” said Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, at a press conference following the announcement. “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin . . . The state of Minnesota and our administration is unwaveringly focused on recovery from what they did.”

Others also expressed hesitancy about Homan’s announcement.

“I won’t believe it until they’re actually gone,” said Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is running for U.S. Senate this year.

Since federal agents were sent to the state, the Twin Cities have faced nearly-constant public protests. The protests were heightened by the January deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both of whom were shot by federal agents.

In his statement following the announcement, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey applauded the protesters as “patriots.”

“They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation. These patriots of Minneapolis are showing that it’s not just about resistance — standing with our neighbors is deeply American,” he said.

He ended by calling for a “great comeback” and a renewal of the city’s “commitment to our immigrant residents.”

Homan said in his announcement that the pullback of federal forces has already begun.

“A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue to the next week,” he said. “Law enforcement officers drawn down from this surge operation will either return to the duty station or be assigned elsewhere.”

Republicans and the Trump administration have applauded the operation as a necessary way to address illegal immigrants living in Minnesota—especially criminals.

Homan said agents successfully apprehended a number of targets throughout Minnesota, who included murderers, sex offenders, national security threats, and gang members.

“We have obtained an unprecedented level of coordination with law enforcement officials that is focused on promoting public safety across the entire state,” he said. “President Trump and I want to thank the men and women of ICE and CBP and partner agencies who have been assigned here during Operation Metro surge, you achieved a great success for the Minnesota communities.”

Homan added that, as part of the operation, federal agents also rescued thousands of missing illegal immigrant children.

“In addition to taking public safety threats off the street, ICE here in this state have located 3,364 missing unaccompanied alien children—children that the last administration weren’t even looking for,” Homan said.

Republicans are congratulating Homan for a job well done as the operation draws to a close, just weeks after President Donald Trump sent him to Minnesota to encourage cooperation from local and state officials.

“Job well done, Tom Homan,” said U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota. “Local law enforcement is now cooperating with federal law enforcement in Tim Walz’s Minnesota, thanks to President Trump’s leadership. We are hopeful that this partnership will continue – without local or state interference – to ensure the worst of the worst are being removed from our communities.”