Senior White House border official Tom Homan announced on Thursday that a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota will soon come to an end. 

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began "Operation Metro Surge" in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and Saint Paul in December. Two US nationals, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, have since been killed by federal agents.

US President Donald Trump put Homan in charge of the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota in late January, just days after Pretti's killing. Previously, the operation was run by senior Border Patrol official Greg Bovino.

What did Homan say?

"I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude," Homan told media in Minneapolis on Thursday. "A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue through the next week."

Homan claimed that "Minnesota now less of a sanctuary state for criminals" due to the controversial crackdown.

 "In the next week, we're going to deploy the officers here on detail, back to their home stations or other areas of the country where they are needed. But we're going to continue to enforce immigration law," Homan said.   

The killings of two US citizens in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents led to protests not only in Minnesota, but also nationwide. The impact of the immigration raids, such as the detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father by ICE in Minneapolis, also drew backlash.

At one point, there were over 3,000 federal agents in the Twin Cities during the operation. For reference, there are only around 600 police officers in the city of Minneapolis.

Walz says 'long road to recovery' starting with ICE leaving

Minnesota officials swiftly reacted to Homan's announcement. 

"They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a member of the Democratic Party, said. "These patriot of Minneapolis are showing that it's not just about resistance — standing with our neighbors is deeply American." 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, also a Democrat, said "the long road to recovery starts now." 

"The impact on our economy, our schools, and people's lives won't be reversed overnight. That work starts today," Walz said.    

US Senator from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar, said: "Minnesotans stood together, stared down ICE, and never blinked."

Americans widely disapprove of Trump immigration policies

The drawdown of federal agents in the Twin Cities come as a new poll shows Americans are souring on Trump's immigration efforts.

A new AP-NORC survey found that about 6 in 10 US adults say Trump has "gone too far" in his deployment of federal immigration agents in US cities. 

In addition to Minneapolis, ICE raids under the second Trump term have also taken place in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and numerous other cities.   

The backlash is likely to affect the outcome of US midterm elections, expected to take place in November. Democrats hope to take back the US House and even the Senate from the Republicans, creating an obstacle for Trump's legislative agenda in the final two years of his second term. Trump is constitutionally ineligible to stand for a third term in office.

Edited by: Darko Janjevic