Minnesota Cooperation Deal Prompts Immediate Withdrawal of Federal Agents
Minneapolis, Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
Following a breakthrough agreement on local cooperation, the administration is immediately withdrawing 700 agents—one-quarter of the deployed force—signaling a major strategic de-escalation in Minnesota.
Strategic De-escalation Amidst Budgetary Pressures
In a rapid development following the interim budget agreement reported in our previous coverage, White House and Democrats Strike Interim Deal to Avert Shutdown Amid Immigration Standoff, the Trump administration has initiated a significant reduction of its federal footprint in Minnesota. On Wednesday, Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, announced the immediate withdrawal of 700 immigration enforcement officers from the state [1][3]. This drawdown represents approximately 26% of the total force deployed during the recent surge, calculated against the remaining troop levels 25.926 [1]. While roughly 2,000 officers will remain to continue operations [1], this move marks a distinct shift in tactics following weeks of civil unrest and high-stakes negotiations between federal and state authorities.
A Tactical Pivot: Cooperation Over Saturation
The reduction in force is not a unilateral retreat but the result of a newly brokered understanding with local leadership. According to Homan, the decision follows an agreement by state and local officials to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants to federal custody [1]. This concession from Minnesota officials appears to have unlocked a “softer touch” approach from the White House, a phrase explicitly used by President Donald Trump on Tuesday when he noted that the administration had learned from the situation in Minneapolis [4]. Homan described the recent communication between federal agencies and local officials as “unprecedented,” suggesting that the administration is pivoting from a strategy of overwhelming force to one of targeted enforcement facilitated by local compliance [4].
Mixed Messages and Lingering Tensions
Despite the logistical drawdown, the administration’s rhetoric remains bifurcated. While President Trump advocated for a softer approach, Vice President JD Vance maintained a hardline stance, asserting, “We’re not drawing down the immigration enforcement” [1]. Homan also clarified that the administration is not surrendering its broader mission of mass deportation, describing the Minnesota operation as “very effective” for public safety, even if not perfect [1]. Conversely, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has characterized the federal presence as a “campaign of retribution,” demanding a more comprehensive withdrawal and state-led investigations into the recent fatalities [1]. This political friction highlights the fragility of the current truce, as federal objectives continue to clash with state demands for accountability.
New Legal Fronts Open
As the physical presence of federal agents diminishes, the conflict has migrated to the courtroom. On Wednesday, two Minnesota school districts and a teachers union filed a lawsuit seeking to block federal immigration enforcement activities at or near schools [1]. This legal action comes despite assurances from Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin that ICE agents are “protecting children” rather than targeting them in educational settings [1]. The lawsuit indicates that while the immediate threat of a government shutdown has been averted and troop numbers are decreasing, the institutional battle over the scope and limits of federal immigration authority in Minnesota is far from resolved.