The Trump administration is pulling 700 federal agents out of Minnesota, White House border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday, just over a week after he arrived in the Twin Cities to overhaul an immigration enforcement operation that was facing massive public backlash.
An “unprecedented” number of counties have begun informing Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they have an immigration target in custody, allowing ICE agents to collect the individual in the safety of the jail rather than on the street, Homan said. That change, which Homan said was facilitated by Minnesota’s Democratic leaders, will allow ICE to reduce its footprint by nearly 20 percent “effective immediately.”
“Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration — and as a result of the need for less law enforcement officers needed to do this work, and the safer environment — I am announcing effective immediately that we will draw down 700 people,” Homan said during a Wednesday morning press conference.
“My goal is, with the support of President Trump, to achieve a complete drawdown. And end the surge as soon as we can,” Homan said. “A complete drawdown is going to depend on continued cooperation from state and local law enforcement and the decrease of the violence, the rhetoric and the attacks.”
Homan, who was sent to Minnesota last week in an effort to de-escalate the tensions over immigration enforcement in the state, said he spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other local officials to work toward initiating the drawdown.
“While we had our differences, one thing was clear, we all committed to public safety for all who live in the Twin Cities,” Homan said. “We have made significant progress under the direction of President Trump, working with state and local officials here in Minnesota, and I expect that to increase in the coming weeks.”
The immigration operation will continue, however. And Homan made a point of stipulating that all illegal immigrants are on the table for enforcement, not just those who have committed additional crimes.
An organized network of anti-ICE agitators has staged protests, tracked agents, and interfered with enforcement operations since Operation Metro Surge began last year. Tensions escalated after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot and killed by agents. Homan was brought in after Pretti’s death last month.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that every field officer in Minneapolis will now wear a body cam. When more funding is available, officers nationwide will wear body cams as well.
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