Minneapolis Mayor Frey Meets With Border Czar As Talks Continue On Operation Metro Surge

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he urged that federal officials to bring Operation Metro Surge to an end as quickly as possible during a private meeting Wednesday with Border Czar Tom Homan.

Homan arrived in Minneapolis as Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and "some" of the federal agents under his command are being pulled out of Minnesota in the aftermath of Saturday’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.

After the meeting, which included Chief Brian O'Hara, Frey told media that he emphasized that large-scale federal immigration enforcement operations are undermining public safety in Minneapolis rather than improving it.

"I appreciated the conversation the Chief and I had with Border Czar Homan," Frey said. "During our meeting, I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to come to an end as quickly as possible. Public safety works best when it's built on community trust, not tactics that create fear or division."

Frey said he told Homan the operation has had serious negative impacts on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, including placing added strain on local police officers.

"I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers," Frey said.

The mayor also reiterated Minneapolis’ position that the city will not participate in enforcing federal immigration law.

"I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe," Frey said.

City officials said Minneapolis leaders will continue discussions with Homan and his team, but did not provide additional details about next steps following the meeting.

Homan has not yet publicly commented on the meeting.

Homan replaces Bovino

Bovino had become the most visible face of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in the state, but according to CNN, administration officials grew increasingly frustrated with his public handling of the fallout, particularly statements suggesting Pretti intended to carry out a mass attack on law enforcement.

Sources told CNN those appearances compounded political damage rather than containing it, prompting internal discussions about removing Bovino from the Minneapolis operation.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Bovino’s departure is part of a broader reassessment by the White House as legal challenges and public protests escalate.

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