Immigration crackdown efforts by the Trump administration are set to conclude in Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday, in the wake of thousands of arrests, violent protests and the killing of two U.S. citizens by federal agents.
Homan defended the work by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, and cited a significant decrease in agitators and cooperation with local officials and law enforcement as the measure of success for the operation.
“A significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue through next week,” Homan said, adding that President Trump “concurred” with the decision.
Homan noted law enforcement officers withdrawn from the surge operation will either return to their duty stations or be reassigned “to deliver on President Trump’s promise of border security and mass deportations.”
“A small footprint of personnel will remain for a period of time to close out and transition full command control back to the field office, as well as to ensure agitator activity continues to decline and that state and local law enforcement continue to respond to ensure officer and community safety,” Homan said.
The decision marks a significant drawback of a widely enforced immigration operation across the U.S. that has seized national attention, particularly as violent protests rocked Minneapolis and after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
In the wake of the Pretti shooting by Border Patrol agents, Homan announced last week that 700 immigration enforcement officials would start withdrawing from Minnesota. Trump also spoke with Gov. Tim Walz (D), reporting a cordial conversation with a figure he has sparred with frequently, marking another reversal by the president and his administration.
Trump dispatched Homan to Minneapolis to replace Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino in a reshuffling of leadership following Pretti’s killing, which sparked nationwide outrage as video of the incident spread on social media.
Homan on Wednesday touted the administration’s work and sought to temper the controversies surrounding the policy.
“ICE is a legitimate federal law enforcement agency. We’re not out scouring the streets to disappear people or deny people their civil rights or due process,” he said, adding that the agency had not arrested anyone at schools or hospitals.
On Wednesday, Homan thanked state and local officials including Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara for their work with the federal government.
“We’ve seen a big change here in the last couple of weeks, and it’s all good changes,” he said.
Updated at 10:47 a.m. EST
