U.S. President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, acknowledged on Wednesday that the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota requires adjustments, signaling the possibility that federal agents could be withdrawn under certain conditions. The comments come amid rising public scrutiny and outrage over the tactics employed by federal agents in the state.
“President Trump wants this fixed, and I’m going to fix it, with your help,” Mr. Homan told reporters at a news conference outside Minneapolis, his first appearance in Minnesota since being appointed to oversee the operation. Homan effectively replaced Border Patrol official Greg Bovino, taking direct responsibility for the deployment of federal agents in the state.
Homan indicated that the Trump administration could “draw down” the number of agents in Minnesota if state officials agreed to give federal immigration authorities access to inmates who are subject to deportation in the state’s prisons and jails. He said such cooperation could provide a framework for reducing the federal presence in the state.
While Homan has floated this approach in the past, it remained unclear whether Minnesota state and local authorities—who already cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to varying degrees—would agree to any policy changes.
Homan acknowledged that state prison officials currently transfer custody of inmates to ICE when requested, and several counties in Minnesota also cooperate with federal authorities seeking to take custody of detainees in local jails. However, he noted that Hennepin County, which encompasses Minneapolis and is the state’s most populous, maintains a policy of refraining from assisting ICE agents.
The comments drew swift responses from Minnesota officials. Governor Tim Walz’s office issued a statement supporting a reduction in federal agents and urging that federal officials not obstruct ongoing state investigations into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two protesters fatally shot by federal agents in separate incidents in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison criticized Homan’s suggestion that the state should expand cooperation with ICE. He emphasized that it is illegal to hold incarcerated individuals solely at the request of federal immigration authorities when there is no other legal justification for detention.
“ICE cannot dictate custody in Minnesota if the law does not support it,” Ellison said, signaling a firm stance against any policy changes that would increase federal access to state prisoners.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also responded cautiously to Homan’s proposal, indicating skepticism about whether federal agents would actually reduce their presence. “I will believe it when I see it,” Frey told reporters during a meeting of U.S. mayors in Washington, D.C.
Homan’s remarks come at a politically sensitive moment, as the Trump administration faces backlash over its aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, particularly the deployment of federal agents in urban areas. Critics argue that the operations have escalated tensions with local authorities and have resulted in unnecessary confrontations with residents and protesters.
The Trump administration has defended its actions as necessary to enforce federal immigration laws and protect communities from criminal activity. However, the pushback from Minnesota officials highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration authorities and state and local governments over the limits of federal enforcement powers.
As discussions continue, Homan’s suggestion of a potential drawdown hinges on negotiating greater access to state inmates, a proposal that could face legal and political hurdles given Minnesota’s existing policies on local cooperation with ICE. For now, federal agents remain deployed in Minneapolis and other parts of the state, while officials weigh the next steps in response to public criticism and calls for accountability.
