Federal Immigration Enforcement Scale-Back Announced in Minnesota
The Trump administration has announced a significant reduction in immigration enforcement personnel operating within Minnesota, following agreements with state and local officials to enhance cooperation on immigration matters. Border czar Tom Homan made the announcement during a Wednesday news conference in Minneapolis, stating that approximately 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal officers deployed throughout the state will be withdrawn immediately.
Cooperation Leads to Personnel Reduction
Homan emphasized that the decision to reduce federal presence comes as a direct result of increased collaboration between federal, state, and local authorities. "Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need for less public safety officers to do this work and a safer environment, I am announcing, effective immediately, we'll draw down 700 people effective today — 700 law enforcement personnel," Homan stated during the press conference held at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis.
The border czar had previously indicated last week that federal officials could consider reducing the number of agents in Minnesota, but only if state and local officials demonstrated willingness to cooperate. This announcement follows President Donald Trump's apparent signals of willingness to ease tensions in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area.
Controversial Operations and Community Impact
The immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota have generated significant controversy and community disruption, particularly within the Twin Cities region. These operations have escalated protests and community tensions, especially following the fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti — the second such fatal shooting involving federal officers in Minneapolis.
Homan has consistently advocated for jails to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about inmates who may be subject to deportation proceedings. He argues that transferring such individuals to federal custody creates safer conditions by reducing the need for officers to actively search for people living in the country without proper documentation.
Administration's Perspective on Sanctuary Jurisdictions
The White House has long attributed difficulties in arresting criminal immigrants to what it terms "sanctuary jurisdictions" — state and local governments that limit law enforcement cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security. The administration views these policies as obstacles to effective immigration enforcement and public safety initiatives.
When questioned about the effectiveness of ICE operations in Minnesota, Homan defended the agency's work. "Yeah, I just listed a bunch of people we took off the streets of the Twin Cities, so I think it's very effective as far as public safety goes," he responded. "Was it a perfect operation? No. No. We created one unified chain of command to make sure everybody is on the same page. And make sure we follow the rules. I don't think anybody, purposely, didn't do something they should have done."
The reduction in federal personnel represents a significant shift in immigration enforcement strategy within Minnesota, reflecting both political negotiations and operational assessments of security needs in the region.
