Following weeks of unrest in Minnesota tied to federal immigration enforcement, the White House signaled a potential shift in strategy Thursday, with border czar Tom Homan announcing plans to reduce the number of federal agents operating in the state if state and local officials follow through on commitments to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Homan was dispatched to Minnesota after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24 during a federal operation. The incident intensified protests and criticism of enforcement tactics, particularly in the Minneapolis area. President Donald Trump later said he wanted to “de-escalate” the situation, adding of the earlier approach, “It wasn’t good here.”
After meetings over the past two days with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Attorney General Keith Ellison, Homan said he received assurances that county jails would begin notifying ICE when they have what he described as a “criminal illegal alien” in custody. That notification would allow federal agents to take custody of individuals inside jails rather than attempting arrests in public spaces.
Homan acknowledged shortcomings in recent operations, saying ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) efforts had not been conducted “perfectly” and needed adjustment. At the same time, he criticized Minnesota Democrats for policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, arguing those restrictions forced agents into more dangerous street-level encounters.
“This is common sense cooperation that allows us to draw down the number of people we have here. Yes, I said it. Draw down the number of people here,” Homan said, referring to federal personnel deployed in the state.
Under the revised approach, Homan said ICE and CBP will move away from broad patrols and toward more focused operations. “Targeted enforcement operations is the way we’ve always done it and I think we got away from it a little bit,” he said. According to Homan, concentrating on specific individuals rather than conducting traffic stops or foot patrols would reduce both community disruption and the need for a large federal presence.
Despite Homan’s characterization of the meetings as productive, the extent of future cooperation remains uncertain. Minnesota Democrats have long argued that while they are willing to work with federal authorities on serious public safety threats, they will not assist in enforcing immigration laws against individuals whose only offense is being in the country unlawfully.
Mayor Frey emphasized that position after his meeting with Homan. “I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers,” Frey wrote on social media. He added, “I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.”
Homan was sent to Minnesota to take over the operation from Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He met with Democratic leaders on January 27, and Governor Walz’s office later said both sides agreed on the need for continued dialogue.
