MINNEAPOLIS — Standing before a room of reporters in a city reeling from weeks of civil unrest and two fatal shootings by federal agents, White House “Border Czar” Tom Homan delivered a message that was part olive branch and part ultimatum. In his first news conference since arriving in Minnesota on Monday, Homan indicated a willingness to scale back the aggressive “Operation Metro Surge” that has flooded the Twin Cities with federal personnel, but he made it clear that any drawdown is strictly dependent on local leaders’ willingness to assist in the administration’s mass deportation mission.
Video of Border Czar Tom Homan - courtesy DWS
“The withdrawal of law enforcement resources here is dependent upon cooperation,” Homan stated during the Thursday morning briefing. “As we see that cooperation happen, then the redeployment will happen. One agent arrests one bad guy. A bad guy in jail means fewer agents on the street.”
A Mission Under Fire
Homan’s arrival in Minneapolis follows a period of unprecedented friction between federal immigration authorities and the state of Minnesota. The deployment, which began in late 2025, took a tragic turn this month with the killings of two U.S. citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—at the hands of federal agents. Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed last Saturday, sparking a wave of protests that have seen demonstrators demanding the immediate expulsion of ICE and Border Patrol agents from the state.
Addressing the recent violence, Homan struck a rare tone of relative humility, though he stopped short of an apology. “I’m not here because the federal government has carried out its mission perfectly,” he acknowledged, adding that he and President Trump recognized that “certain improvements could and should be made.”
However, the Border Czar remained steadfast in the administration’s broader objectives. He denied that the federal government was retreating, emphasizing that the mission remains to remove “public safety threats and national security threats.” He insisted that future operations would be more “targeted,” returning to strategies he claimed the agency has used for decades. “When we hit the streets, we know exactly who we’re looking for,” he said.
The Standoff Over Jails
The crux of the news conference centered on Homan’s demand for access to local correctional facilities. For years, “sanctuary” jurisdictions like Minneapolis have restricted the extent to which local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration detainers. Homan argued that these policies force federal agents out into the community to make arrests, which increases the likelihood of public confrontations and collateral damage.
“Sanctuary cities lock us out of the jails,” Homan said, echoing a long-standing grievance of the Trump administration. He suggested that if Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Governor Tim Walz, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey agreed to allow ICE agents to take custody of individuals directly from local jails, the heavy presence of federal agents on city streets would no longer be necessary.
According to Homan, recent “meaningful dialogue” with state leaders has already yielded some concessions. He claimed that Attorney General Ellison had indicated a willingness for county jails to notify federal authorities about the release dates of individuals deemed to be “public safety risks.” However, the definitions of those risks and the extent of that cooperation remain a point of significant contention.
Political and Legal Repercussions
While Homan spoke of progress, the political landscape in Minnesota remains volatile. The news conference coincided with Senator Amy Klobuchar’s announcement that she would run for Governor of Minnesota, a move seen by many as a direct response to the federal-state clash. Meanwhile, local officials expressed cautious optimism about a potential drawdown but remained skeptical of Homan’s rhetoric.
Mayor Jacob Frey’s office released a statement following the news conference, saying, “Any drawdown of ICE agents is a step in the right direction—but my ask remains the same: the federal government must respect our local laws and the safety of our residents.”
The legal pressure on federal agencies is also mounting. Reports indicate that ICE has been accused of violating nearly 100 court orders in the month of January 2026 alone. A federal judge recently warned that the agency is “not a law unto itself,” threatening personal appearances for top officials if noncompliance continues.
“I’m Staying ‘Til the Problem’s Gone”
Despite the talk of tactical shifts, Homan made it clear he has no intention of leaving the state until the administration’s goals are met. “I didn’t come to Minnesota for photo ops or headlines,” he told reporters. “I came to seek solutions… I’m staying until the problem’s gone.”
The “problem,” as Homan defines it, is the presence of undocumented immigrants and the lack of state cooperation in their removal. He pushed back against critics who argue that the surge has been indiscriminate, claiming that the majority of those arrested represent a threat to public safety. He also blamed the “rhetoric” from local politicians for inciting violence against federal agents, suggesting that a calmer political environment would facilitate a faster withdrawal of forces.
As the news conference concluded, the atmosphere in Minneapolis remained tense. While the promise of fewer agents on the streets offers a glimmer of de-escalation, the fundamental disagreement over immigration enforcement and local sovereignty continues to pit the federal government against one of the nation’s most defiant states.
Sources and Links
- LA Times: Tom Homan says he will scale back federal agents in Minnesota — if they have access to jails
- Al Jazeera: Trump border security boss Homan doubles down on Minnesota operations
- CBS News Minnesota: Homan says CBP, ICE working on drawdown plan in Minnesota, but says “I’m staying ’til the problem is gone”
- The Guardian: Trump’s border chief vows ‘improvements’ for ICE operations but doesn’t mention fatal shootings of US citizens – live
- KARE 11: Border czar Tom Homan on immigration enforcement: ‘The mission is going to improve’
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