President Trump has dispatched his border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota with a sweeping mandate to oversee ICE operations amid growing tensions over immigration enforcement in the state.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed Friday that Homan “will be managing ICE operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” while also coordinating fraud investigations involving charities tied to Minneapolis’s Somali diaspora, according to a White House statement.
The move comes amid protests following recent shooting incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis. President Trump has distanced himself from the incidents, saying, “We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination.” The administration has not yet stated whether protocols were followed in the shootings.
Mixed Reception from Officials
Republican lawmakers have praised the appointment. Sen. Jim Banks called it “a great announcement,” adding that “there is no one who understands deportations better than Tom Homan,” according to political sources.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also endorsed Homan’s involvement, describing him as “a major asset to our team” whose “experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the streets of Minneapolis,” she noted.
Local officials, however, have expressed concerns. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described a meeting with Homan as productive but requested “for Operation Metro Surge to come to an end as quickly as possible,” emphasizing that “public safety works best when it’s built on community trust – not tactics that create fear or division,” Frey told reporters.
In a separate meeting, Governor Tim Walz outlined Minnesota’s priorities to Homan, including “impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, a swift, significant reduction in the number of federal forces in Minnesota, and an end to the campaign of retribution against Minnesota,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Trump’s Direct Involvement
Is this a sign of the president’s personal interest in Minnesota’s immigration issues? It appears so. Trump announced Homan’s deployment personally, describing him as “tough but fair” and emphasizing that Homan “will report directly to me,” the White House confirmed.
The president also characterized his recent call with Governor Walz positively, saying, “It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength.” Trump added that Walz “was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!” according to reports.
Mayor Frey seemed to confirm some progress in discussions, stating that “the president agrees that the present situation cannot continue,” and noting that some federal agents would be leaving the area as soon as Tuesday, local media revealed.
Controversial Background
Homan brings a controversial history to this assignment. He’s previously stated that undocumented immigrants “should be looking over your shoulder” when it comes to ICE enforcement tactics, comments that immigration advocates have criticized.
The border czar has also faced scrutiny over a 2024 incident in which he was alleged to have accepted $50,000 from undercover agents, though Homan has firmly denied this, stating he “didn’t take $50,000 from anybody,” according to investigations.
The deployment marks a significant escalation in federal immigration enforcement activities in Minnesota, with the Governor tasking the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as the primary liaison to Homan. Both sides have agreed on the need for ongoing dialogue, though it remains unclear how long the heightened federal presence will continue or what specific outcomes the administration seeks.
