Border enforcement hardliner Tom Homan made it clear Thursday that his mission in Minneapolis is about results, not optics. In his first press conference since being dispatched by Donald Trump, Homan announced what he called “massive changes” in federal immigration operations following weeks of unrest sparked by the fatal shootings of two anti-ICE protesters.
“I’ve been on the ground less than three full days,” Homan told reporters. “I’m staying until the problem’s gone, but we’ve made a lot of progress — a lot of progress — in the last few days.”
Homan arrived late Monday after violent clashes erupted in Minneapolis, where 37-year-olds Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti were killed in separate encounters with federal agents earlier this month. The shootings intensified protests and drew national scrutiny to federal enforcement tactics in Minnesota’s largest city.
At the center of Homan’s announcement was a new agreement with Tim Walz and Keith Ellison allowing federal agents to more consistently take custody of undocumented immigrants from state prisons and county jails. Homan argued the move would reduce street arrests, lower tensions, and improve officer safety.
“We can do better,” he said. “And I thank the local state leaders for meeting with me. We made some significant gains — significant coordination and cooperation — and you’re going to see some massive changes occurring here in this city.”
The agreement, however, comes with legal guardrails. Minnesota law prohibits holding inmates solely on an ICE detainer if there is no other legal reason to keep them in custody. Ellison emphasized that point in a statement, noting that county sheriffs already recognize and follow those limits — a clarification Homan did not dispute.
Homan suggested the new cooperation could allow federal authorities to reduce the heavy presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol personnel currently deployed in Minneapolis, estimated at around 3,000 officers. “Based on the discussions I’ve had with the governor and the AG, we can start drawing down those resources,” he said, adding that enforcement would focus on “criminal public safety threats,” primarily in controlled jail settings.
Still, Homan stressed that migrants without criminal records remain subject to arrest and removal, and warned that federal resources would be redeployed if cooperation falters.
Notably, Homan took a sharp swipe at Kristi Noem and Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, signaling an apparent victory in a long-simmering internal feud. While Noem and Bovino favored broad, high-visibility enforcement, Homan has pushed for a more targeted approach.
“I didn’t come to Minnesota for photo ops or headlines,” Homan said pointedly. “I came here to seek solutions.”
For now, Homan appears firmly in charge — and Minneapolis is the testing ground for his recalibrated strategy.