The Trump administration will withdraw 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday. The move comes weeks after agents killed two U.S. citizens, sparking protests across the country.
"My goal, with the support of President Trump, is to achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge, as soon as we can," Homan said at a news conference.
He reiterated that immigration efforts would continue and that agents would not solely target undocumented criminals.
"If you’re in the country illegally, you are not off the table," Homan said. "Let me be clear, President Trump fully intends to achieve mass deportations during this administration, and immigration enforcement actions will continue every day throughout this country."
Homan said that the drawdown is partly a result of cooperation between Minnesota county jails and federal immigration officials, making it easier for immigration authorities to apprehend targets. Homan asked for such cooperation from state and local authorities over the last week.
"This is smarter enforcement, not less enforcement," he said, adding that local authorities will not be conducting immigration enforcement.
Over the past two months, more than 3,000 federal immigration agents have descended onto Minneapolis, in what the Trump administration has dubbed Operation Metro Surge. For comparison, the city has 600 police officers. Homan said that roughly 150 federal immigration authorities were present in the city before the operation began.
The Department of Homeland Security said agents have arrested about 3,000 undocumented immigrants since the operation began.
Local officials responded to Homan on Wednesday, saying they “remain concerned about the thousands” of ICE and Border Patrol agents in the state. Videos of confrontations between immigration authorities and residents of the Twin Cities have continued to go viral near daily since talk of a drawdown began last week.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that federal immigration authorities in Minnesota will be equipped with body cameras. Homan reiterated that funding is coming to the area for the equipment.
"The drawdown and body-worn cameras are a step in the right direction, but 2,000 ICE officers still here is not de-escalation,” Minneapolis Jacob Frey said in a statement. "My message to the White House has been consistent — Operation Metro Surge has been catastrophic for our residents and businesses. It needs to end immediately."
