Gov. Walz, on ICE surge, says he expects "days, not weeks and months of this occupation"

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he expects the ongoing Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement actions in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota to last "days, not weeks and months." 

Walz spoke at Malcom Yards, a food hall near the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he addressed the real-time economic impacts of the federal enforcement surge in Minnesota, saying there has been catastrophic economic damage in the state. 

Walz said the number of federal agents in Minnesota was supposed to be reduced by 700, as outlined by border czar Tom Homan. He added that he has no reason to believe that did not happen, but he has no proof that it has. 

The governor said he spoke on Monday with Homan and Susie Wiles, President Trump's chief of staff.

"We are very much in a trust-but-verify mode, but it's my expectation after talking with them that we are talking days, not weeks and months, of this occupation," Walz said.

When asked to clarify, Walz doubled down. 

"It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces this thing is done, that they are bringing her down and they are bringing her down in days," he said.

Walz did sound a note of caution, citing Mr. Trump's mercurial nature.

"I will be very candid with you, I am going to be careful with you dealing with this administration," he said. "It depends on the mood of the president on this at night when they talk to him. If he's in an angry mood, don't talk to him after the Super Bowl halftime show, wait till the next day."

While acknowledging that uncertainty, Walz says he does know this: every day Operation Metro Surge continues, there is a chance that any ICE encounter could rapidly escalate.

"We are on the edge of catastrophe every day with these untrained agents out here, with the danger that is out there," he said.

The governor added he did give the White House assurances that he and his staff are fully cooperating with any fraud investigation.

As reported earlier by CBS News, less than 14% of nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested by ICE in the president's first year back in the White House had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses.

Some skeptical over governor's claims

While the governor remains optimistic, business owners say they are not quick to trust. 

Inside a St. Paul mercado, the cash register still rings, though not as often as once before. The owner says he's grateful it is enough to keep the door open. 

"We need peace in Minnesota," he said. "We see agents every day driving around neighborhoods."

Many in the community who have protested week after week say they, too, aren't convinced.

"So far, we have not seen a reduction in any ICE activity," Jennina Boskovich said. 

Boskovich and CJ Griebenow were among protesters who lined the streets in St. Paul for an ICE Out rally just after the governor's announcement.

"We are going to keep being out here until we see them gone from St. Paul," Griebenow said. 

Business owners say even when ICE activity ends, getting back to normal will take months.

Immigration agency heads testify before the House Homeland Security Committee

A pivotal hearing also took place Tuesday in Washington, focusing on the role and conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol in Minneapolis and across the country. 

This was the first time since the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti that the heads of ICE, Border Patrol and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services testified before Congress. All three agencies are part of the Department of Homeland Security.

During the hearing, Republicans on the committee questioned agency leaders about the role of protestors antagonizing and threatening agents, as well as the rhetoric and decision-making of local leaders. Democrats on the committee pressed the witnesses about agents' conduct and training.

The agency leaders declined to answer questions about the shootings, citing ongoing investigations. However, they said the situation in Minneapolis has calmed since Homan's arrival.

"We've seen a de-escalation in protests, so our agents can do their intelligence-driven enforcement operations. Just the other night, local law enforcement arrested 54 protestors and ICE officers didn't have to be engaged," said Todd Lyons, acting ICE director.

Officials at the hearing also shared information about training and the rollout of body cameras for agents.