Border czar Tom Homan said Tuesday morning that he’s looking into a “draw down” of federal immigration officers from Minnesota after city and state officials agreed not to release immigrants who have criminal records and pose risks to public safety, so they can instead be transferred into federal custody.
Homan appeared to try to diffuse the increasingly tense situation in the Twin Cities between federal agents and the public and elected officials, while maintaining the federal government’s hard-line approach in Minnesota.
Homan said he reached agreements this week with Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison that federal immigration officers could conduct enforcement in jails to arrest immigrants with criminal records.
“This is common sense cooperation that allows us to draw down the number of people we have here,” Homan said.
As local elected officials cooperate more on other efforts, Homan said, he’ll withdraw additional federal agents.
However, Homan also said he plans to stay in Minnesota until “the problem’s gone,” adding that he plans to continue to have conversations with elected officials, police chiefs, business owners and religious leaders to seek solutions. Homan delivered a 20-minute address Thursday morning as part of his first public update since arriving in Minnesota Monday at President Donald Trump’s direction.
“The withdrawal of law enforcement resources here is dependent upon cooperation. We got more to talk about how we’re going to implement these agreements,” Homan said. “But as we see that cooperation happen, then the redeployment will happen.”
Homan also said he told Walz and Ellison that agreeing to stop “hateful rhetoric and impediment and interference” relating to enforcement will result in withdrawing more federal agents.
“As the Governor has said, we need a drawdown in federal forces, impartial BCA investigations, and an end to the campaign of retribution against Minnesota,” Walz said in a written statement responding to Homan’s remarks.
Walz, Frey and Her issued written statements Thursday after Homan’s speech; most did not specify whether they had reached any agreements with Homan.
“Any drawdown of ICE agents is a step in the right direction — but my ask remains the same: Operation Metro Surge must end,” Frey said.
Her said she plans to “keep talking” with Homan to end the federal operation, and she had a “productive conversation” on their next steps.
Ellison described his meeting with Homan Wednesday as “cordial.”
“I did not negotiate with Mr. Homan, come to any agreement, or offer any compromise on the goal of keeping Minnesotans safe,” Ellison added.
Ellison said he found it “distressing” when, shortly after his meeting with Homan, he heard that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi had posted the pictures and names of 16 protesters arrested in Minnesota by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Although Ellison agreed with Homan that “actual violent criminals” should not be released back into public society regardless of immigration or citizenship status, he said, “Minnesotans’ foremost concern for their and their neighbors’ safety is the overwhelming presence and brutal tactics of federal immigration agents on those streets that are disrupting everyday life in our communities and doing harm to our neighbors.”
Homan said he agreed with elected officials that “community safety is paramount.” But he also said that federal agents will continue arresting immigrants whether or not they have a criminal history, and warned that protesters who get in the way will be arrested.
“Nothing’s ever perfect, anything can be improved on and what we’ve been working on is making this operation safer, more efficient by the book. The mission is going to improve because of the changes we’re making internally,” he said. “President Trump and I, along with others in the administration, have recognized that certain improvements could and should be made. That’s exactly what I’m doing here.”
Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have repeatedly said agents are arresting hardened criminals in Minnesota, but children, U.S. citizens and people with no criminal background have been arrested or temporarily detained.
Agents also shot and killed civilian observers Renee Nicole Macklin Good on Jan. 7, and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24, drawing international attention and criticism to the federal operation in Minnesota, which has been described as the largest of its kind in U.S. history. Another agent shot and wounded Julio Cesar Sosa Celis on Jan. 14 during an enforcement action.
Asked for his reaction to Pretti’s shooting, Homan declined to comment.
“We’ll let the investigation roll out,” he said. “I don’t want to see anybody die, even the people we’re looking for.”
Homan said he has been meeting with elected officials in Minnesota after Trump asked him to “regain law and order.” Homan replaced U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, who left Minnesota after Pretti’s killing.
Despite talks of cooperation, Homan emphasized that federal authorities are “not surrendering.” While federal agents are prioritizing immigrants who pose a threat to safety, he said those without legal status and no criminal background are “never off the table.”
Homan’s arrival to Minnesota marks nearly two months of Operation Metro Surge, which involved sending a reported 3,000 immigration agents to the state since December.
