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President Trump’s immigration operation in Minneapolis is yielding significant results, with thousands of undocumented immigrants arrested and missing migrant children located, according to a senior Minnesota congressman.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., announced Thursday that Operation Metro Surge has located approximately 3,000 previously missing migrant children in the Minneapolis area. The federal initiative has also resulted in the apprehension of 4,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
“Do you realize that Operation Metro Surge picked up 4,000 illegal alien criminals? Rapists, murderers, pedophiles, drug dealers — 4,000!” Emmer told Fox News Digital. “And by the way, I was told that, coming down here from the [House floor], that they’ve also located 3,000 missing migrant children. I mean, that’s just in the Minneapolis area.”
The Trump administration announced Thursday it would be ending the controversial operation, which began as part of the president’s broader efforts to crack down on illegal immigration in areas with sanctuary policies. Minneapolis, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, became a focal point of these enforcement actions.
The operation ignited significant tensions between federal authorities and local residents, particularly after two fatal shootings during anti-ICE demonstrations. Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE agent after allegedly striking the agent with her vehicle while attempting to flee, and Alex Pretti was fatally shot by Border Patrol in a separate incident weeks later. These deaths prompted lawmakers from both parties to call for greater oversight of the operation.
Emmer, a staunch Trump ally, placed blame for the unrest squarely on Minnesota Democratic officials, specifically Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. He accused them of implementing “crazy sanctuary state and sanctuary city policies” that “have allowed these criminals to roam our streets and put our law-abiding, tax-paying American citizens’ — good Minnesotans’ — lives at risk.”
“I don’t care if you think they were in the right place, the wrong place, it doesn’t matter. A loss of a life is tragic, but it didn’t have to be this way,” Emmer said. “Had there been cooperation, none of this would have happened. If they will cooperate, which it sounds like they are now going forward, things are going to settle down very fast.”
In response to the controversy, President Trump replaced the operation’s leadership, appointing Tom Homan, his border czar, to replace Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino. The leadership change was welcomed by Republicans, who viewed it as a positive step toward improving the operation’s effectiveness.
The administration’s decision to end the operation comes amid signs of improved cooperation between federal and local authorities. Emmer praised the move, saying, “I think what the administration has done is frankly excellent. Tom Homan announced that Operation Metro Surge was successful and that they’re going to be ending it and the president approved of that, which tells me that they’re getting the cooperation that they need [from state and local authorities].”
The Minneapolis operation reflects the broader immigration policy priorities of the Trump administration, which has emphasized stricter enforcement measures and targeted sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Supporters argue these measures enhance public safety, while critics contend they damage community trust and lead to civil rights violations.
As the operation concludes, questions remain about the long-term implications for Minneapolis and other cities with similar policies, as well as the fate of those detained during the operation and the welfare of the migrant children who were located.
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10 Comments
While the apprehension of criminals is understandable, the claims about the scale of this operation and the treatment of vulnerable migrant children deserve further scrutiny. Transparency and oversight are essential.
Agreed. Any actions that impact the rights and wellbeing of minors must be handled with the utmost care and due process.
Interesting claims about the results of this operation, though the details and motivations behind it raise some concerns. I’d want to see more verified information from credible sources before drawing any firm conclusions.
Agreed, there seem to be a lot of unanswered questions here. Transparency and accountability around immigration enforcement efforts are critical.
This is certainly a controversial and sensitive issue. I hope any efforts to locate missing children are done with the utmost care and respect for their wellbeing, regardless of immigration status.
Well said. The welfare of vulnerable children should be the top priority in these situations.
This seems like a politically charged issue, so I’ll reserve judgment until more facts are available. Locating missing children is obviously a positive outcome, but the broader context and methods used raise important questions.
Well put. Maintaining an objective, fact-based perspective is crucial when dealing with sensitive and polarizing topics like immigration enforcement.
The claims of finding 3,000 missing migrant children are quite striking, if true. I’d be curious to know more about the specifics and how this was accomplished as part of the broader immigration crackdown.
Agreed, the scale of the numbers reported is quite remarkable. More details and independent verification would be needed to fully assess the situation.