Minneapolis will see 700 federal immigration agents leave the city following a month-long enforcement operation that drew national attention after two U.S. citizens were killed, White House border czar Tom Homan announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference in the city, Homan said the partial drawdown was made possible through “unprecedented” cooperation between federal and local officials. The departing agents will come from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), though about 2,000 federal officers will remain in the area.
“This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement,” Homan said, stressing that continued operations depend on Minnesota’s collaboration with federal authorities.
For the first time, Homan addressed criticism over the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed while observing federal enforcement actions. He acknowledged public concern over misconduct by federal personnel, emphasizing that professionalism is expected and any violations would be addressed.
“American people seek and deserve professional and trustworthy officials, and I and the president expect any misconduct would not be tolerated and swiftly addressed,” Homan said. “Was it a perfect operation? No. But I’m not going to sit here and say that they failed. It was a great operation.”
Homan said the reduction in personnel was made possible after Minnesota’s prison and jail systems cooperated, shortening the “target list” of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. He also announced a consolidation of the command structure between ICE and CBP in the Twin Cities, with legal and internal affairs personnel on the ground to ensure compliance with federal law.
“This reorganization enables ICE to leverage joint intelligence capabilities, reduce overall personnel footprint, and enhance public safety and confidence in the agency’s capabilities and presence here,” Homan said.
The border czar reiterated that immigration enforcement continues nationwide as part of President Donald Trump’s deportation policy. He urged residents to respect federal operations, noting that while constitutional rights to protest are protected, officers should be allowed to perform their duties without harassment. According to Homan, at least 158 people were arrested over the past month for interfering with operations.
Homan was dispatched to Minneapolis last week following public outcry over the fatalities. He has since replaced Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who had encouraged aggressive enforcement tactics, and reassigned him out of the state. Homan said he is committed to improving operational standards while continuing immigration actions.
The partial withdrawal comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement nationwide, raising questions about balancing public safety, legal compliance, and local cooperation in cities targeted by aggressive ICE and CBP operations.
