Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison met with White House Border Czar Tom Homan on January 28 to discuss the ongoing Operation Metro Surge and its impact on Minnesota communities. In a statement released after the meeting, Ellison emphasized his commitment to protecting Minnesotans from what he described as unconstitutional tactics by federal immigration agents.
Ellison stated, “I met yesterday with White House Border Czar Tom Homan. The meeting was cordial and, as someone who believes in dialogue as a path to solving problems, I welcomed the opportunity to share my perspective with Mr. Homan.”
He explained that his main purpose was to reaffirm his opposition to Operation Metro Surge and push for an independent investigation into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during encounters with federal immigration agents. “I did not negotiate with Mr. Homan, come to any agreement, or offer any compromise on the goal of keeping Minnesotans safe,” Ellison said.
During their discussion, Homan requested cooperation from state officials in removing individuals with violent criminal histories who are not authorized to be in the United States. While both agreed that no one wants violent criminals on Minnesota’s streets, Ellison highlighted concerns about federal agents’ presence and methods: “I firmly expressed to him that right now, Minnesotans’ foremost concern for their and their neighbors’ safety is the overwhelming presence and brutal tactics of federal immigration agents on those streets that are disrupting everyday life in our communities and doing harm to our neighbors.”
Ellison outlined relevant state laws for Homan, clarifying that Minnesota law requires authorities to share information about non-citizens convicted of felonies but does not allow holding people solely based on ICE detainers without other legal grounds. He also noted that county sheriffs operate independently regarding jail procedures.
“I also reiterated that in Minnesota, it is against the law to hold an incarcerated person solely on an ICE detainer if there is no other legal reason to hold them, a fact I clarified in a legal opinion nearly one year ago,” Ellison added.
He criticized claims from federal officials about lack of cooperation from local law enforcement as misleading and said these statements have damaged trust between state agencies and the federal government.
The fate of authorized immigrants living in fear due to recent enforcement actions was another point raised by Ellison: “I stressed the outrage we all feel at the arrests and disappearances of legal observers exercising their constitutional rights and of people with no criminal history at all, including 5-year-old Liam Ramos.”
Ellison confirmed ongoing lawsuits aimed at ending Operation Metro Surge and ensuring transparency in investigations related to recent deaths involving immigration agents.
After learning that Attorney General Pam Bondi had posted names and images of arrested protesters shortly after his meeting with Homan, Ellison commented on widespread distrust toward federal authorities among Minnesotans: “Huge numbers of Minnesotans, especially in the Twin Cities, have lost all trust in the federal government’s ability to treat all states, cities, and individuals equally under the law.”
He further argued that Operation Metro Surge appears politically motivated given Minnesota’s relatively low immigrant population—ranking 28th among states—and yet being targeted by a disproportionate number of immigration agents.
“We will not allow the federal government to intimidate or coerce Minnesota into acting against our values or our duly enacted laws,” Ellison concluded. “We will not make any concessions or compromises to undermine our state sovereignty. While Minnesotans continue to with courage, compassion, and care for each other, I will continue to use every tool I have available to make the surge end.”
