White House border czar Tom Homan announced a drawdown of federal agents deployed to Minnesota on Wednesday, a change he said is made possible thanks to “unprecedented cooperation” from local law enforcement.
Homan made the announcement during a Wednesday morning press conference in Minneapolis, saying 700 federal agents would be departing the Twin Cities. He added that the ultimate goal is a “complete drawdown” of federal presence.
Homan highlighted meetings he had with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, urging them all to allow local jails to communicate with federal law enforcement about when they planned to release illegal immigrants being detained there.
“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets. Unprecedented cooperation,” Homan said Wednesday. “I’ll say it again: This is efficient, and it requires only one or two officers to assume custody of a criminal alien target, rather than eight or 10 officers going into the community and arresting that public safety threat.”
Homan said the practice was safer for officers, the community and the migrants themselves.
“Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of less need for law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I have announced immediately we will draw down 700 people effective today,” he said.
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Homan went on to note that federal authorities are not requiring jails to hold illegal migrants beyond their normal release time.
“We’re not asking anyone to be an immigration officer,” he said.
President Donald Trump deployed Homan to the Twin Cities last week after federal agents shot and killed anti-ICE agitator Alex Pretti. He was the second protester to be killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.
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U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino left Minnesota shortly after Homan’s arrival.
Federal agents have met with stiff resistance in their operations across Minneapolis and St. Paul, with organized agitators harassing and obstructing law enforcement.
Republicans on Capitol Hill have called for investigations into the funding streams behind the organized resistance.
This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.
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