Minneapolis: President Donald Trump on Monday dialled down his rhetoric on the sweeping federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota, citing “productive” talks with state and city leaders as some federal agents prepared to withdraw from the operation as early as Tuesday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he spoke directly with Trump, urging an end to the enforcement surge. According to Frey, the president agreed that the current situation could not continue. Trump later praised the exchange, saying “lots of progress is being made.”

One of the most senior officials expected to depart is Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, a key figure behind the administration’s high-profile immigration operations across multiple US cities. A person familiar with the matter confirmed the development to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

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Bovino has been at the centre of aggressive enforcement drives that sparked large-scale protests in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis. His looming exit signals a notable shift in federal posture following mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, the second fatal shooting involving federal immigration officers this month.

Criticism of Bovino intensified in recent days after he publicly defended the Pretti shooting and made disputed claims about the encounter that preceded the death.

Meanwhile, Trump has placed border czar Tom Homan in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota. Frey said he plans to meet Homan on Tuesday. The White House confirmed Homan will report directly to the president and serve as “the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis” during ongoing operations.

Trump also spoke with Democratic Governor Tim Walz in what both described as a more constructive exchange than their earlier public disputes.

“We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” the president wrote in a social media post.

Walz said the call was “productive” and stressed that impartial investigations into the recent shootings were necessary. Trump said his administration was seeking “any and all” criminals held in state custody, while Walz noted that Minnesota’s Department of Corrections already honours federal custody requests.

The shift in tone comes as federal courts weigh legal challenges to the enforcement surge. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seeking to temporarily halt Operation Metro Surge.

Menendez said the case was a priority but ordered the federal government to submit an additional brief by Wednesday evening, including responses to claims that the operation is intended to punish the state for sanctuary laws.

“If this is not stopped right here, right now, I don’t think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future,” Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter told the court.

The judge questioned the administration’s motivations and expressed scepticism over a recent letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting access to voter rolls, Medicaid and food assistance records, and repeal of sanctuary policies.

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“I mean, is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law?” Menendez asked.

Justice Department attorney Brantley Mayers argued that the government’s objective remained enforcement of federal law, adding that one lawful action should not invalidate another.

Menendez acknowledged the complexity of the case, saying, “It’s because this is important that I’m doing everything I can to get it right.”

In related proceedings, a federal appeals court declined to lift a separate temporary order barring federal officers in Minnesota from detaining or using tear gas on peaceful protesters. Another federal judge is also considering whether to maintain an order preventing federal authorities from altering or destroying evidence connected to Pretti’s shooting.

According to administration attorneys, around 2,000 ICE officers and at least 1,000 Border Patrol agents are currently deployed in Minnesota. The lawsuit seeks to reduce that presence to pre-surge levels and limit the scope of enforcement.

Attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia have filed briefs backing Minnesota, underscoring the broader national implications of the case.