The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota following two fatal shootings involving federal officers, according to border czar Tom Homan. Approximately 700 federal agents are being withdrawn from immigration operations in Minnesota, as announced by Homan during a press briefing. This decision comes after criticism from local officials and residents regarding what they perceive as heavy-handed actions by federal agents, resulting in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
The victims, 37-year-old Renee Good and critical-care nurse Alex Pretti, were fatally shot on January 7 and January 24, respectively, by federal officers. The federal government’s Operation Metro Surge, which began in early December and currently involves around 3,000 federal officers in the state, aims to remove criminal immigrants from the streets. Homan mentioned that the departing officers would include a combination from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) without specifying exact numbers.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed a desire for a further reduction in the federal presence, stating that Operation Metro Surge does not enhance the safety of Minnesota residents. Democrats have been calling for changes in the administration’s immigration enforcement policies, including demands for officers to reveal their identities and acquire judicial warrants in specific cases.
In response to the tense situation in Minnesota, Homan emphasized that a full drawdown of officers to pre-surge levels is dependent on ceasing activities targeting ICE officers, such as setting up road blockades. Despite the recent recall of high-profile commander Greg Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol and Homan’s involvement, tensions in Minnesota persist.
In another development, federal officials blocked state investigators from accessing evidence in the Good shooting, declaring that Minnesota lacked jurisdiction to investigate the case. The Justice Department is conducting a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti while declining to initiate a similar inquiry into Renee Good’s death.
The Trump administration also launched an investigation into Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly obstructing federal immigration operations. As discussions continue between federal and state officials, discontent within the Justice Department is evident, with reports of additional departures from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota.
Ultimately, the ongoing dialogue between federal and state authorities, coupled with the evolving investigations and political dynamics, underscores the complex and contentious landscape surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota.