Trump admin to withdraw 700 federal officers from Minnesota: Homan

The Trump administration will withdraw 700 federal law enforcement officers from Minnesota “effective immediately,” White House border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday.

After this partial withdrawal, approximately 2,000 federal agents will remain in the state (about a 25% reduction), with most of them in Minneapolis and St. Louis, Homan said at a press conference in Minneapolis. He said he would focus on the Twin Cities area, which includes St. Paul.

Homan announced the withdrawal, citing “unprecedented collaboration” between the federal government and state and local agencies. This collaboration increases efficiency, requires fewer officers to be sent into communities “to undertake surveillance of a criminal alien target,” and frees up resources, Homan said.

“More police officers detaining criminal aliens directly from prisons means fewer officers conducting criminal operations on the street,” he said. “This is smart law enforcement, not lesser law enforcement.”

He has repeatedly insisted that the administration “is not surrendering” in Minneapolis, which has become the focus of civil unrest over the administration’s aggressive deportation tactics.

The “complete withdrawal” of the region will depend on the continued cooperation of state and local institutions, as well as “a reduction in violence, rhetoric and attacks.” [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and Border Patrol,” Homan said.

The top Senate Democrat said the announced reduction was insufficient.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Y) called Homan’s partial ouster “like a drop in the bucket for the people of Minneapolis.”

“It’s not close enough,” Schumer said on the Senate floor after Homan’s comments. “They all need to go now.”

Tensions between immigration enforcement and protesters erupted after federal agents killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, during separate altercations in January.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rushed to defend these killings while initially charging both Good and Pretti with domestic terrorism.

But as public opinion rapidly soured on ICE, the administration changed its tone on the deaths, and President Donald Trump sent Homan to Minnesota to lead ground operations, replacing Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino at large.

“We are not abandoning the president’s mission regarding the mass deportation operation,” Homan said Wednesday. he said. “If you are in the country illegally, we will deport you if we find you. But this is about a targeted enforcement operation and that is what we will do.”