The Trump administration is scaling back the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two local residents by federal officers last month, according to border czar Tom Homan. Around 700 federal agents will be pulled from immigration operations in Minnesota, Homan announced during a press briefing. This decision comes in response to criticism from local officials and citizens who have decried what they perceive as heavy-handed tactics by federal agents, resulting in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE officer on Jan. 7, while Alex Pretti, also 37 and a critical-care nurse, was killed on Jan. 24 by two Border Patrol officers. In the interim, another resident was shot in the leg by a federal officer. Currently, approximately 3,000 federal officers are part of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, which commenced in early December. Homan stated that the departing officers would consist of a mix from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), without specifying exact numbers.
The federal government maintains that the surge is essential to remove criminal immigrants from the streets, citing challenges posed by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” Homan emphasized the arrests of individuals unauthorized to be in the U.S. who were charged with serious crimes as evidence of the operation’s success. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for a further reduction in the federal presence, labeling Operation Metro Surge as ineffective in enhancing safety in the state.
Democrats have been pushing for reforms to rein in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions. Discussions in Congress are ongoing regarding potential new regulations for ICE and CBP officers following the fatal incidents in Minneapolis and Chicago last year during the second Trump administration’s deportation initiatives. However, the acceptance of Democrats’ broader demands, such as officers revealing their identities and obtaining judicial warrants in specific cases, remains uncertain.
Homan mentioned that a complete return to the pre-surge number of officers is contingent upon ceasing activities targeting ICE officers, including road blockades. Nearly 160 cases involve individuals charged with intimidating or obstructing federal officers, he noted. Despite Homan’s involvement and the recall of high-profile commander Greg Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol, tensions persist in Minnesota.
Recently, federal officials prevented state investigators from accessing evidence in the Good shooting and asserted that Minnesota lacked jurisdiction to probe the killing. The Justice Department declined to initiate a civil rights investigation into Good’s death but announced an investigation into the shooting of Pretti to determine its justification. Concerns have been raised about the Justice Department’s response to the incidents, leading to departures from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota, including resignations from supervisory agents in the FBI’s Minneapolis office.
Productive discussions have been ongoing between federal officials and Minnesota authorities. While the Trump administration claims voter support for its deportation initiatives, discontent within the Justice Department is evident. A series of departures has occurred in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota, with additional attorneys leaving last month due to disagreements over the handling of the Good shooting. Notably, at least one supervisory FBI agent in Minneapolis also resigned last month.
