FEBRUARY 5, 2026 – White House Border Czar Tom Homan—Gruppenführer Gregory Bovino’s replacement as overseer of “Operation Metro Surge”—announced yesterday a 700-agent drawdown from the purported 3,000 ICE agents and Border Patrol agents on the loose in Minnesota, mostly in the Twin Cities metro area. Ask people on the ground here, however, and no one believes him—or anyone up or down the chain of command. Why should we? The hallmark of the Regime is a pattern of lies, even when the truth is in plain sight for all to see, as it was in the shooting deaths of Reneé Good and Alex Pretti.
Besides, how would anyone know if 7, 70 or 700 agents have been sent to greener pastures in other blue states. Or, given the ubiquity of ICE sightings, disruptions, and now, the latest—disguises (e.g. street clothes in lieu of standard issue “combat fatigues”; ICE agents masquerading as construction workers and observers)—how do we know that the number of enforcement goons hasn’t actually increased?
More critical than one number over another, however, is the fact that all too many people here continue to live in fear, their lives and families, work and school, disrupted by the Regime’s cruel and unlawful approach to . . . law enforcement. According to DHS records—which themselves invite a heavy dose of skepticism—since the start of “Operation Metro Surge,” the ratio of “worst of the worst” detainees to the total number of arrests by ICE is less that 1 to 10. At a minimum, 90% of detainees are non-criminals, and a good many are either legal residents or American citizens.
You don’t have to be “a leftie” or for that matter, anywhere on the left – right political spectrum to see that “Operation Metro Surge” is an exercise in out-of-control retribution by a person who has absolutely no business occupying any position of public authority, let alone the highest office in the land. Even the stated premises for what’s advertised as “policy” (i.e. “illegal aliens” pose a threat to our safety) are patently invalid. Moreover, irrespective of the faux policy rationale for Trump’s war against “illegal aliens,” the methods deployed are morally reprehensible and in most instances, unlawful—all at a comparative cost that no Republican seems compelled to question.
In the eyes of the world, “Operation Metro Surge” has succeeded in reducing our “brand” to depths unknown since the overlapping debacles of Watergate and the Vietnam War. By installing Trump and his minions at the levers of government, we squandered our good will in the world, and it will take more than a few election cycles to recover—assuming that elections will be held.
But of far greater importance than what other nations think of us, is the human toll of the Regime’s retribution campaign; the indecent treatment of human beings. Stories now abound about the inexcusably cruel treatment of ICE arrestees. I’ve taken the time to listen to accounts of detainees—perfectly legal residents, no less—who were so maltreated in detention, I thought I was hearing described some deportation receiving pen inside a failed state run by gang members at best or a sadistic omnipotent dictator at worst. One such detainee, “Raul,” who was beaten, deprived of food and water and being of average build, lost 25 pounds in 19 days of (illegal) captivity. When asked if his case was unusual or if other detainees were treated as he was, he answered, “Yes, everyone.” To my astonishment Raul said he doesn’t reject the country that has tried to reject him. In his determination we should all place faith in our democracy, however ragged and compromised it now appears.
Not as left-leaning or right-leaning, not even as Americans, but as human beings who subscribe expressly or implicitly to the Golden Rule, should be outraged by our government’s actions in “Operation Metro Surge.” If in these polarized times we ought to agree on one thing, it should be on human decency—and that what is manifest in ICE operations is the polar opposite of human decency.
In directing his ICE war against Minnesota, Trump committed a huge ICE FOLLY, at least as far as his reward for retribution is concerned. By his cruel actions he has triggered a community spirit here as none of us has previously experienced; an esprit de corps around the flag of the common good. As I’ve stated in previous posts, the manifestation of this unusual unity is not only in our protests but in our daily joint efforts in looking out for and extending tangible aid to our immigrant friends and neighbors. Commonplace these days are yellow-vested “ICE guards and watchers” posted outside schools and certain neighborhoods. Just today I saw a group patrolling around the entrance to a small tidy trailer park that a number of immigrant families call home. I stopped to visit briefly with the patrollers. They were ordinary people, of retirement age, volunteers from the surrounding community, and they shared my sentiments about how this terrible thing visited upon our state has brought out the better angels of our nature. They also stressed the importance of keeping our actions peaceful.
I’m confident that the people of Minnesota are not alone; that we have vast company across the rest of the country, and that together, we will—as we must—prevail against the evil, complicity and incompetence that now reign in Washington. In our heartfelt support may those at risk, who’ve contributed so much to our community, find the hope and fortitude to weather the storm.
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© 2026 by Eric Nilsson
