St. Paul, Minnesota, 11 February (H.S.): Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed measured optimism on , forecasting the conclusion of the Trump administration's contentious immigration enforcement surge in the state within mere days, citing direct assurances from Border Czar Tom Homan on February 9 and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles earlier that morning.

Walz, addressing reporters at The Market at Malcolm Yards food hall, characterized the operation—launched under Operation Metro Surge—as an occupation and retribution campaign, yet adopted a trust but verify posture amid lingering 2,300 federal officers patrolling streets post-Homan's announced withdrawal of 700 agents, predicated on enhanced local jail collaboration yielding deportable detainees.

He advocated for Homan to publicly affirm the drawdown before February 14, underscoring expectations of rapid de-escalation while decrying economic devastation, with Commissioner Matt Varilek lamenting fear-driven patronage plummets crippling local commerce.

The pronouncement follows two fatal shootings by federal agents—U.S. citizens Renée Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti weeks later—igniting protests, congressional grillings, and state-federal frictions over evidence access in joint probes, as Walz anticipates collaborative investigations sans further elaboration.

Amid partisan tempests and DHS funding deadlines, Walz's remarks signal potential détente, though he cautioned reversals remain plausible in the politically charged backdrop.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar