Trump Border Czar Says Cooperation Could Lead to ICE Drawdown in Minneapolis
Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s “border czar,” confirmed on Thursday in Minneapolis that federal officials are working on a plan to draw down the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in the city — a shift in strategy after weeks of controversy and deadly encounters. His comments signal an effort to defuse mounting local and national criticism of an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign.
The announcement escalates tensions between federal authorities and Minnesota officials who have called for a rapid reduction of ICE forces following two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during the federal operation, which unleashed protests and strained relations with local law enforcement.
According to Homan, federal officials from Customs and Border Protection and ICE are developing a “drawdown plan” that could lessen the number of agents on Minneapolis streets if there is increased cooperation with state and county officials, particularly allowing ICE access to county jails for detaining individuals with removable offenses.
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Homan also framed the cooperation as “common sense cooperation” that would make it possible to “draw down the number of people we have here.”
“This approach allows us to be more strategic and focused,” Homan said, emphasizing enforcement will continue but be more targeted.
The shift matters because Minneapolis has become the focal point of national outrage over federal immigration enforcement after the killing of protesters and civilians, prompting local officials like Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey to demand changes and reduced federal presence.
Federal raids have continued despite talk of scaling back, leaving uncertainty about how fast or how extensive any drawdown will be.
In the coming days, federal and state leaders are expected to negotiate specifics of cooperation that could determine when and how many ICE agents are pulled back.
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