TRUMP BORDER CHIEF CONSIDERS DRAWDOWN OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AMID IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN BACKLASH
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Agency Report
Donald Trump’s border chief, Tom Homan, has indicated that some federal immigration agents could be withdrawn from Minneapolis, the northern US city that has become the epicentre of protests against the president’s immigration crackdown.
Speaking at a press conference in Minneapolis on Thursday, Homan said the administration remained committed to its enforcement drive but acknowledged that increased cooperation from local authorities could allow for a reduction in the number of federal agents deployed to the city.
“We are not surrendering our mission at all. We’re just doing it smarter,” Homan said, stressing that President Trump was determined to address the situation. “President Trump wants this fixed. And I’m going to fix it.”
The remarks came amid mounting public outrage following the shooting deaths of two Americans by federal agents in Minneapolis. In response to the backlash, the Trump administration has also eased immigration operations in the northeastern state of Maine.
Minneapolis has witnessed weeks of demonstrations against the roundup of undocumented migrants by masked and heavily armed federal agents. Mayor Jacob Frey, addressing a conference of US mayors in Washington, described the federal presence in the city as an “invasion,” accusing authorities of trampling on constitutional rights and targeting communities based on ethnicity.
“It’s not how we operate in America,” Frey said.
President Trump convened a cabinet meeting on Thursday, but the unrest in Minnesota was not discussed while reporters were present. He also did not call on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during the session. Trump has instead tasked Homan with overseeing immigration operations in Minnesota, directing him to report directly to the White House, a move that effectively sidelined Noem.
The controversy has spilled into Congress, where a potential government funding shutdown looms after Senate Democrats blocked a procedural vote in protest over the killings in Minnesota. Democrats have vowed to oppose funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless new guardrails are imposed on Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Adopting a more conciliatory tone than his predecessor, Homan said “community safety is paramount” and acknowledged that improvements could be made to the operation. He urged residents to refrain from “hateful rhetoric” against federal immigration officers.
Homan disclosed that officials were working on a “drawdown plan” for some of the more than 3,000 federal agents involved in “Operation Metro Surge,” noting that cooperation from Minnesota authorities—such as notifying ICE of the release dates of detained migrants deemed public safety risks—could facilitate a reduction in personnel.
However, skepticism remains among residents. Steven Gagner, a Minneapolis-based jewelry designer and self-described “citizen observer,” questioned the sincerity of the administration’s intentions, accusing it of lacking accountability.
Homan declined to comment on the fatal shooting involving federal agents, saying the matter was under investigation. The two agents involved have been placed on leave, and Homan said any breach of conduct would be addressed.
While Trump has said he wants to “de-escalate a little bit” in Minneapolis, he has continued to attack Somali-born Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar. His remarks followed an incident in which a man sprayed her with a liquid during a speech. The suspect, Anthony Kazmierczak, has been charged at both state and federal levels with assault.
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