The Trump administration has moved to reduce its federal immigration enforcement presence in Minnesota, with border czar Tom Homan announcing the immediate withdrawal of 700 officers from the state.
Speaking from the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Homan described the decision as a strategic adjustment enabled by stronger partnerships with local jails.
He explained that direct handovers of criminal targets from detention facilities mean fewer street-level operations, allowing resources to be redeployed elsewhere. “This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement,” Homan said, noting that around 2,000 agents will remain focused on public safety threats while maintaining the broader deportation mission.
The pullback follows weeks of intense activity and widespread protests triggered by the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in separate encounters with federal agents. Those incidents fueled national demonstrations against aggressive tactics, prompting Homan’s on-the-ground oversight.
Homan stressed that sustained local cooperation and a drop in violence toward officers would determine any further changes. “We’re not surrendering the president’s mission on a mass-deportation operation,” he added, warning that undocumented individuals remain subject to removal if encountered.
Elsewhere in politics, President Trump addressed ongoing scrutiny from newly released Epstein files, urging the public to shift attention to other priorities like health care and framing the matter as more tied to Democrats.
Quick Summary:
Tom Homan announced the withdrawal of 700 federal agents from Minnesota, leaving about 2,000, due to better jail coordination for targeted arrests. The move follows protests over fatal shootings and aims for efficient enforcement without reducing overall efforts; Trump separately called for moving past Epstein revelations.