MINNEAPOLIS — The Trump administration is ending the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan said Thursday of the two-month operation that led to thousands of arrests, angry mass protests and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.

The operation, which the Department of Homeland Security called its ” largest immigration enforcement operation ever, ” has been a flashpoint in the debate over President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts, flaring up after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal officers in Minneapolis.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation focused on the Minneapolis-St. Paul area resulted in more than 4,000 arrests, Homan said, touting it as a success.

“The surge is leaving Minnesota safer,” he said. “I’ll say it again, it’s less of a sanctuary state for criminals.”

The announcement marks a significant retreat from an operation that has become a major distraction for the Trump administration and more volatile than prior crackdowns in Chicago and Los Angeles. It comes as a new AP-NORC poll found that most U.S. adults say Trump’s immigration policies have gone too far.

Trump initially said the surge was an effort to root out fraud in publicly funded programs, for which he blamed the state’s large Somali community, most of whom are U.S. citizens. But the drive soon shifted gears toward other ethnic groups such as Latinos. While the administration has portrayed those caught up in the Minnesota sweeps as “dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” many of them are people with no criminal records, children including 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, and U.S. citizens.

State and local officials, who have frequently clashed with federal authorities since Operation Metro Surge started in December, insist the swarm of immigration officials has inflicted long-term damage on the state’s economy and its immigrant community.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz urged residents Thursday to remain vigilant in the coming days as immigration officers prepare to leave, saying he’s not going to express gratitude for the Trump administration officials who caused “this unnecessary, unwarranted and in many cases unconstitutional assault on our state.”

“It’s going to be a long road,” Walz said at a news conference where he proposed a $10 million aid package for businesses that have lost revenue because of the immigration enforcement operation. “Minnesotans are decent, caring, loving neighbors and they’re also some of the toughest people you’ll find. And we’re in this as long as it takes.”

The governor called on Washington to help fund the recovery.

“The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here. … You don’t get to break things and then just leave without doing something about it,” he said.

Homan was vague about a timeline for the drawdown. But Walz said Homan had assured him Thursday morning that federal officers would start leaving immediately.

“So as soon as they can pack their stuff, book a plane, move on. I would volunteer — we will help you get to the airport. We will clear the road to get to the airport. I will pack your damn bags if that’s what it takes,” the governor said.

Homan’s announcement came as Democratic lawmakers demand restraints on immigration officers before agreeing to fund DHS. The Trump administration is trying to secure votes in Congress to prevent federal funding from expiring at the end of the week.

Walz, a former congressman, said Homan’s announcement doesn’t make him any readier to support restoring DHS funding.

The governor said he has been in contact with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, urging them to “hold the line until you get the at least minimum reforms necessary in this rogue agency.”

In Washington, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who sits on the Homeland Security committee, told reporters he’ll continue to insist on “fundamental and far reaching reforms” at ICE as a condition of funding for DHS.