Topline
Border Czar Tom Homan said Thursday he wants to reduce the number of federal authorities in Minnesota, after being sent to the state by President Donald Trump the government seeks to de-escalate protests and backlash following the killing of ICE protester Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent.
Border czar Tom Homan speaks during a news conference about ongoing immigration enforcement operations on January 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Key Facts
Homan arrived in Minnesota on Monday after the removal of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, whose hardline approach and public clashes with protesters and local officials drew backlash after the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti this month, and Homan said Thursday he has met with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
He said the hope is to “draw down the amount of people we have here” with a focus on getting ICE access to jails and prisons: “More agents in the jail means less agents in the street. This is common-sense cooperation that allows us to draw down on the number of people we have here.”
But the withdrawal of federal agents, according to Homan, “is dependent on cooperation” from local officials, who he said he has had “meaningful dialogue” with.
Homan’s arrival followed the killing of Pretti by a border patrol agent on Saturday, the second American citizen to have been killed this year in Minnesota, as Homan said the federal government had not executed its mission perfectly.
He called for “hostile rhetoric” from protesters to stop, but unlike recent comments from Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem, Homan said he supports protesters’ First Amendment rights: “You have the right to protest. I’m just asking to keep it peaceful.”
Crucial Quote
“I want to make it clear, ICE and CBP officers are performing their duties in a challenging environment under tremendous circumstances, but they are trying to do it with professionalism. If they don’t, they’ll be dealt with,” Homan said.
Who Is Tom Homan?
Homan was previously the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first term and has decades of experience working in immigration enforcement dating back to the Reagan administration. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Homan a Presidential Rank Award for extraordinary accomplishment.
Key Background
The Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked widespread backlash, with mass protests erupting after federal agents were deployed to the state and two U.S. citizens were fatally shot during enforcement actions. The unrest drew sharp criticism from local leaders, pressuring the White House to soften its approach. Trump has since appointed Homan to oversee operations and emphasized cooperation with local authorities.
Further Reading
Trump Says Noem Won’t Resign As Top Democrats Threaten Impeachment (Forbes)
What To Know About Trump’s New ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan (Forbes)
Trump Says He And Walz Now On ‘Similar Wavelength’ Despite Blasting Governor After Pretti Shooting (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikestunson/2026/01/29/trumps-border-czar-hopes-to-draw-down-ice-presence-in-minnesota/
