Morning Wire – “Operation Metro Surge” Ends & Colony Ridge Caves

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Podcast: The Daily Wire – Morning Wire

Episode Overview

This episode centers on three major topics: the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement shift in Minnesota (the end of “Operation Metro Surge”), the breakdown and implications of the controversial Texas settlement with Colony Ridge, and the looming Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse amid heated immigration debates in Congress. The hosts, joined by reporters and experts, unpack these complex issues, provide context, and share perspectives from political figures on both sides of the aisle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operation Metro Surge Ends in Minnesota

• Context: ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is drawing down its high-profile surge in Minnesota after multiple weeks of action.
• Reporter: Ginny Terre (Immigration Reporter)
• Trump administration: The pullback is not a retreat from the promise of mass deportations; standard ICE operations will continue.
• Local Response: Minnesota Democrats claim victory, crediting community activism and ICE watchdog groups.
• ICE’s Strategy: According to Tom Homan, the shift comes after securing unprecedented local law enforcement cooperation. Existing ICE presence (150 officers) remains, with a renewed focus on serious criminals and fraud investigations.

Notable Quote:

“We’re prioritizing those who are the biggest threat to our community: the rapists, the murderers, the child molesters. But I’ll say it again: President Trump made a promise of mass deportation, and that’s what this country’s going to get.”
— Tom Homan, Border Czar, [04:14]

• Democratic Perspective:
  • Senator Amy Klobuchar insists the fight is ongoing until ICE is overhauled and funding is changed.
    Quote:

  “We did not blink, and yet it is not over. Because … there must be accountability, for the deaths of Renee and Alex, but there also must be accountability for all of the other damage they did, economic harm to our state. And now, until they are overhauled and … this enormous funding … changes, we do not know where they're going to go next.”
  — Senator Amy Klobuchar, [06:07]

2. DHS Funding Lapse & Congressional Immigration Debate

• Reporter: Cameron Arcand (Political Reporter)
• Status: DHS is facing an imminent funding pause. Negotiations over immigration reform stall; Democrats and Republicans at odds.
• Democratic Demands: End to ICE agent masking, eliminating roving patrols, and—critically—shifting from administrative to judicial warrants for arrests (would make enforcement significantly more difficult).
• Impact of Shutdown: Immediate effects on immigration enforcement are muted due to previous funding via the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” but other DHS agencies (FEMA, TSA, Coast Guard) could see staff missing paychecks.
• Historical Parallel: Reference to the 43-day government shutdown, with disruptions at TSA.
• GOP Position: Senator John Barrasso opposes Democratic proposals to split immigration from DHS funding.

Notable Quotes:

“During the last government shutdown, we saw longer lines at TSA, people calling out sick … So when we talk about the direct impact on Americans, those are the things we could be seeing.”
— Cameron Arcand, [09:02]

• Save America Act: Passed the House; mandates nationwide voter ID and documentary proof of citizenship upon registration. Push continues in the Senate.

3. Colony Ridge Settlement in Texas

• Reporter: Brent Scher, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief
• Background: Colony Ridge was the fastest-growing US development, marketed directly to illegal immigrants—ads in Spanish, unconventional loans without SSNs.
• Investigative Timeline: Story broke by Daily Wire in 2023, followed by national reporting and lawsuits from the Biden administration; resolved under Trump administration and Texas.
• Settlement Details:
  • $68 million total:
    • $20 million for a new police center inside Colony Ridge (to address crime, cartel activity).
    • $50 million for infrastructure improvements (addressing flood-prone, poor land quality).
  • Housing Policy Changes: Only buyers with Texas-issued IDs or legal visas (issued since Trump took office) may purchase—effectively barring illegal immigrants.
  • Objective: To undo the formation of an illegal immigrant enclave and safeguard the community.

Notable Quote:

“The business model … was completely aimed exclusively at illegal immigrants or at least foreign populations. It was all in Spanish. They advertised unconventional bank loans where you didn't need a Social Security number. I mean, the strategy was pretty obvious and it worked.”
— Brent Scher, [11:42]

• DOJ/Federal Statements: Harmeet Dhillon pledges ongoing pursuit of similar schemes; Texas AG Ken Paxton focuses on halting de facto illegal immigrant communities.
• Implications: Major policy precedent; possible positive resolution for affected Texan communities.

4. Brief Update: Nancy Guthrie Case

• Reporter: Lyndon Blake
• Details: FBI offers $100,000 reward for information; suspect description released (5’9–5’10", average build, black 25L Ozark Trail hiker pack backpack).
• Ongoing Investigation: FBI seeks public tips to identify suspect. [15:49–16:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Operation Metro Surge ends in Minnesota: [02:26–06:44]
• Minnesota Democrats & ICE controversy: [04:48–06:44]
  • Tom Homan’s press conference (deportation priorities): [04:14]
  • Senator Amy Klobuchar statement: [06:07]
• DHS funding lapse & immigration negotiations: [06:47–11:19]
  • Key disputes in Congress: [08:05]
• Save America Act details: [10:14–11:08]
• Colony Ridge Texas settlement: [11:22–15:41]
  • Business model background and public impact: [11:42–13:29]
  • Settlement specifics: [13:35–14:56]
• Nancy Guthrie case update: [15:49–16:26]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Tom Homan on ICE priorities:
  "We’re prioritizing those who are the biggest threat to our community: the rapists, the murderers, the child molesters. But I’ll say it again: President Trump made a promise of mass deportation, and that's what this country’s going to get." [04:14]

• Senator Amy Klobuchar on ICE accountability:
  “We did not blink, and yet it is not over. … there must be accountability for all of the other damage they did, economic harm to our state.” [06:07]

• Brent Scher on Colony Ridge’s origin:
  “The business model … was completely aimed exclusively at illegal immigrants or at least foreign populations. … The strategy was pretty obvious and it worked.” [11:42]

• Cameron Arcand on DHS shutdown impact:
  “During the last government shutdown, we saw longer lines at TSA, people calling out sick … when we talk about the direct impact on Americans, those are the things we could be seeing.” [09:02]

Episode Flow & Tone

The episode features fast-paced, fact-driven reporting with a distinct Daily Wire perspective: skeptical of Democratic immigration policy, supportive of Trump’s agenda, and stressing investigative journalism’s impact. The mood is urgent—underscoring the stakes of immigration enforcement, government funding negotiations, and major policy changes—with regular attributions and direct statements from authoritative guests and political leaders.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive, timestamped recap of the main news and expert commentary from Morning Wire's “Operation Metro Surge Ends & Colony Ridge Caves” episode.