The Trump administration will reduce the number of federal immigration officers operating in Minneapolis by nearly 20%, signaling a gradual scaling back of the high-profile enforcement surge in the Twin Cities, border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Minneapolis, Homan said the administration plans to withdraw about 700 immigration officers as cooperation between federal agencies and local law enforcement increases, reducing the need for a heavy federal presence to apprehend unauthorized immigrants.
said the reduction marks the first phase of a broader effort to end the expanded enforcement operation launched earlier this year.
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“My goal is, with the support of President Trump, to achieve a complete drawdown and end the surge as soon as we can,” Homan said. He added that a full withdrawal would depend on continued collaboration with state and local authorities and a decline in violence, rhetoric, and attacks targeting immigration officers.
According to Homan, closer coordination with local police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made large-scale deployments less necessary in the city.
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The announcement follows growing national scrutiny after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed in Minneapolis during protests connected to immigration enforcement operations. The incidents intensified public pressure on the White House to reassess the scope and tactics of the crackdown.
In response to escalating tensions, President Donald Trump appointed Homan — who previously served as acting director of ICE during Trump’s first term — to take direct control of the Minneapolis operation and oversee its restructuring.
Earlier this month, federal officials indicated that the administration was reviewing enforcement strategies in several cities, including Minneapolis, amid concerns about community safety, officer security, and operational sustainability.
Homan said the administration’s long-term objective is to fully end the surge operation in Minneapolis, provided local partnerships remain strong and conditions continue to stabilize.