The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration officers in Minnesota, with approximately 700 federal officers being withdrawn immediately, according to Tom Homan, the border czar. This decision comes after state and local officials agreed to cooperate with the administration by turning over arrested immigrants.
About 2,000 officers will remain in the state after this week’s drawdown, with Homan stating that a widespread pullout will only occur after protesters stop interfering with federal agents carrying out arrests and setting up roadblocks to impede the operations. The operation in Minnesota, which began in early January, has been met with resistance from residents who are upset with the aggressive tactics of the masked, heavily armed officers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have described the surge in Minnesota as its “largest immigration operation ever”.
Homan took over the Minnesota operation in late January after the second fatal shooting by federal officers and amid growing political backlash. He had previously stated that federal officials could reduce the number of agents in Minnesota if more state and local officials cooperate. The Trump administration has long complained that places known as sanctuary jurisdictions hinder the arrest of criminal immigrants. Homan believes the ICE operation in Minnesota has been a success, checking off a list of people wanted for violent crimes who were taken off the streets.
The withdrawal of federal officers is seen as a result of increased cooperation between state and local officials and the Department of Homeland Security. However, it is unclear whether the county jails that serve Minneapolis and St. Paul have changed their policies to meet ICE’s idea of full cooperation. Homan made it clear that pulling a chunk of federal officers out of Minnesota isn’t a sign that the administration is backing down, stating “We are not surrendering the president’s mission on a mass deportation operation”. The operation is expected to continue, with Homan warning that the only thing protests are doing is “irritating your community”.
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