White House border czar Tom Homan on Jan. 29 described plans to “draw down” the federal presence in Minnesota, as the Trump administration grapples with backlash over its immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.
But President Donald Trump, speaking later on Jan. 29 at the premiere of first lady Melania Trump‘s documentary “Melania,” said that his administration would “not at all” be pulling back its deployment in Minnesota.
Earlier, Homan said “You’re going to see some massive changes occurring here in this city,” adding there will be “less agents in the streets” as federal authorities gain more access to local jails and target undocumented immigrants with criminal records, something he said the Minneapolis operation had strayed from among officials.
Homan, who Trump sent to Minnesota this week, said the operation needed reform.
“I’m not here because the federal has carried its mission out perfectly,” he said, adding: “President Trump wants this fixed and I’m going to fix it.”
The plans mark the most significant shift in operations since federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis this month, sparking nationwide protests, friction in the Republican Party and a growing dissatisfaction with the administration’s immigration enforcement.
Developments:
∎ Congress faces a Friday deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown. Democrats have vowed not to support the funding measure unless there are guardrails placed on the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A Senate test vote on Thursday failed.
∎ Sen. Susan Collins announced that a large-scale ICE operation in Maine had ended less than 10 days after it began. Collins, a Republican, said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed her of the news. DHS did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
∎ The man accused of dousing Rep. Ilhan Omar with apple cider vinegar and water has been charged with assault by the Department of Justice, according to a complaint filed in federal court. The court document says the man, Anthony J. Kazmierczak, had previously told a close associate that “somebody should kill” the Minnesota lawmaker.
President Trump told reporters Thursday evening that his administration would “not at all” be pulling back in its deployment of immigration authorities in Minnesota.
The president’s comments came at a red carpet event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, for first lady Melania Trump’s new documentary: “Melania”.
“No, no. Not at all,” Trump said in response to a question about whether the administration would be pulling back its deployment to Minnesota. “We want to keep our country safe. We’ll do whatever we can to keep our country safe.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced late Thursday that February would be “shop local month” in an effort to support businesses hurt by the massive deployment of immigration authorities.
“The federal presence in Minnesota has been especially tough on our local businesses,” Walz said in a statement. “Choosing to shop local, grab takeout, or visit a neighborhood store is one way we can stand with our neighbors and continue to show the nation what it means to respond with care and decency.”
According to the proclamation from the governor’s office, the presence of federal authorities has disrupted foot traffic, especially in immigrant communities. At a news conference outside a Somali mall in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said shop owners at the Karmel Mall were losing a total of $30 million per month.
Local business owners in other cities targeted by Homeland Security for immigration enforcement, including Chicago, Charlotte, North Carolina, and New Orleans, have said the militarized deployments of federal agents have been bad for business.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro criticized the Trump administration’s tactics as “leaving people less safe” during an event in Washington, DC. The Democrat, who is up for reelection this year, said the administration is violating peoples’ constitutional rights.
“The underlying mission here is compromised. The underlying mission needs to be terminated, period,” Shapiro said. “You’ve created this imbalance in Minneapolis that is leaving people less safe.”
A former prosecutor and state attorney general, Shapiro said he sees a case that requires a state investigation and a state determination of prosecution of the federal agents who were involved in the shooting.
Based on publicly available information and his experience, he said, “You could make a very strong case for voluntary manslaughter against the federal official who pulled the trigger multiples. Second, I think you could make a very strong case for obstruction of justice. That was a crime scene, And that crime scene was compromised.”
Shapiro said the state of Minnesota may also be able to make a case for a conspiracy charge, “if there was a clear directive” that the crime scene should be compromised and officials should not participate in an investigation.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, said she is “not at all” satisfied with comments made by Trump’s new point person for immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, border czar Tom Homan, or that he is implementing big changes in the operation.
“It was more conciliatory words but no detail,” Smith told CNN after Homan said he was drawing down the number of agents and focusing on “targeted” operations.
“I’m looking for information about when troops are leaving,” Smith said. “I think ICE needs to get out of Minnesota. I think it is dangerous when they are there.”
– Zac Anderson
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday spoke at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington and called for the Trump administration to end its immigration enforcement in the Midwestern city.
“Operation Metro Surge needs to end,” said Frey, who has repeatedly butted heads with President Donald Trump and top members of his administration. “This kind of conduct and siege needs to stop, not just in Minneapolis, it needs to stop nationwide.”
Frey accused federal officials of weaponizing the Justice Department to launch a political investigation into him and other elected Democrats in the state. He said 3,000 agents were sent to Minneapolis to “silence” a political position that differs from that of the Trump administration.
“We won’t be intimidated in Minneapolis,” he said.
The Trump administration moved quickly to portray Alex Pretti as a grave threat to law enforcement after the 37-year-old intensive care nurse was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Pretti was branded a domestic terrorist by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who also labeled him an “assassin” and shared a statement from DHS saying he appeared poised to “massacre law enforcement.”
Yet, as uproar over the shooting grew, videos of the incident spread and the administration’s narrative unraveled, the White House changed course and adopted a more conciliatory approach. Here’s a timeline showing how the administration’s statements evolved in a case that has become a major political liability for Trump.
– Dinah Voyles Pulver, Zac Anderson, Ramon Padilla, Shawn J. Sullivan
President Donald Trump did not acknowledge Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, where he called on and praised other top aides.
Noem was present for the Cabinet meeting, but Trump did not ask her to speak. He did not offer praise to the embattled DHS leader, either, even as he complimented other Cabinet members who did not speak such as Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The White House said earlier this week, on Monday, that Noem still had Trump’s confidence prior to the shakeup that saw Homan, the White House border czar, replace Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino in Minnesota. Trump said Tuesday that he thought Noem had done “a very good job.”
Trump often takes questions at Cabinet meetings but did not do so on Thursday, allowing him to avoid having to address Noem’s fate.
A Senate test vote on Thursday to avoid a partial government shutdown failed, signaling Democrats, Republicans and the White House are still at odds amid their negotiations on Department of Homeland Security.
It’s unclear how long it will take for Democratic lawmakers to finalize a deal with the White House. But the main sticking point seems to be centered around exactly how long a short-term funding measure for DHS would be.
A partial shutdown is likely, regardless of whether a Senate agreement is struck soon. That’s because the House of Representatives will almost certainly have to come back and approve it.
– Zachary Schermele and Kathryn Palmer
The man accused of spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar with apple cider vinegar from a syringe has been charged by the Department of Justice, according to a federal court filing.
Anthony Kazmierczak faces a charge alleging he “forcibly assaulted, opposed, impeded, intimidated and officer and employee of the United States,” a complaint says.
Kazmierczak rushed Omar on Tuesday night as she called for reforms to ICE and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be impeached. Kazmierczak was tackled and arrested. Omar, a frequent Trump target, was unharmed.
Less than two weeks before he was fatally shot by immigration officers, Alex Pretti was involved in a heated encounter with federal agents, new video circulating online shows.
Video of the earlier encounter, recorded on Jan. 13, shows Pretti apparently yelling at a Ford SUV. As the vehicle pulls away, Pretti kicks and breaks one of its rear taillights. The vehicle then stops and a federal officer jumps out of the backseat before tackling Pretti. Other officers soon join the scuffle, but they eventually let him go.
The video was shared on X by Vice President JD Vance.
President Donald Trump said believes the White House and members of Congress are “getting close” to a deal to avert a shutdown.
“Hopefully we won’t have a shutdown,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting with his secretaries. “We’re working on that right now. I think we’re getting close. The Democrats, I don’t believe want to see it either. So, we’ll work in a very bipartisan way.”
President Trump is Trump and his Cabinet will be meeting at 11 a.m. ET.
The meeting comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over its handling of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, where federal agents shot and killed two protesters this month.
Watch the meeting here.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was traveling to Washington, D.C. on Thursday where he planned to meet with lawmakers and call for an end to the federal immigration operation in the Twin Cities.
Frey was in the nation’s capital for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He said in a statement that he intends to join leaders of other cities to urge lawmakers to reign in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The meeting comes as congressional Democrats threaten to partially shut down the government if Republicans don’t put guardrails on immigration authorities.
“Minneapolis may be where we’ve seen one of the largest ICE deployments in the country, but it will not be the last if we fail to act,” Frey said in the statement. “I’m going to Washington to make the case for ending this strategy and replacing it with approaches that build trust, improve safety, and put our residents first.”
Homan said federal immigration agents are operating in a “challenging environment under tremendous circumstances” and called protesters on the ground “agitators.”
Agents will carry out “targeted, strategic enforcement operations” with a focus on public safety threats, Homan said.
“They’re trying to do it professionally. If they don’t, they’ll be dealt with,” Homan said. “Like any other federal agency, we have standards of conduct.”
Homan said there will be zero tolerance for interfering, impeding or assaulting officers.
As he announced a drawdown of ICE officers in Minnesota, Homan insisted that the administration was not backing down on Trump’s priority of deporting migrants who have committed violent crimes.
“We are not surrendering the president’s mission on immigration enforcement, let’s make that clear,” Homan, the White House border czar, said.
Homan said ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota are conducting “targeted enforcement operations” – the same approach he said the federal government has taken for decades.
“That’s traditionally been the case, and that’s what we’re going to do,” Homan said. “When we hit the streets, we know exactly who we’re looking for and a good idea of where we may find them.”
Homan’s comments come as ICE has faced criticism for targeting residents indiscriminately.
Homan, addressing reporters for the first time since arriving in Minnesota three days ago, said he’s met with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. He said his mission is to “regain law and order” in Minnesota.
“I didn’t come to Minnesota for photo-ops or headlines,” Homan said. “I came here to seek solutions, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
He reaffirmed the administration’s opposition to so-called “sanctuary cities” that protect migrants.
“Like I’ve said many times for the last several years for this administration, jurisdiction that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities are sanctuaries for criminal. Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals and it dangers the residents of the community.”
Homan said in opening remarks at his news conference that that he did not agree on everything with state and local officials. “I didn’t expect to agree on everything,” he said.
“I’ve heard many people want to know why we’re talking to people who they don’t consider friends of the administration. Bottom line is you can’t fix problems if you don’t discussions,” Homan said.
Homan said he came to Minnesota to seek solutions. “And that’s what we’re going to do. We’ve come a long way.”
It was the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that was flouting the law by ignoring dozens of federal court orders during the immigration enforcement surge this month, a federal judge in Minneapolis said on Wednesday.
While canceling a contempt-of-court hearing for acting ICE chief Todd Lyons, after the agency belatedly complied with an order to release a wrongly detained man from Ecuador, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz listed at least 96 court orders he said ICE has violated in 74 cases.
A federal judge in Minnesota issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday barring Homeland Security from arresting or detaining refugees in the state and ordering the agency to release any refugees in agency custody.
U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim issued the restraining order in connection with a class action lawsuit brought by refugees living in Minnesota who said they were detained and held by Homeland Security without a “warrant or justification,” according to court filings.
The judge’s order reaffirms the legal status that refugees have in the United States and questions the legality of a new Homeland Security policy, Operation PARRIS, which calls for the agency “to target and reexamine the legal status” of the 5,600 refugees living in Minnesota who are not permanent residents.
A new video reportedly shows Pretti in a heated encounter with federal agents about 11 days before the deadly shooting.
The video shared by Trump, as well as major news networks including NBC News and CBS News, shows Pretti kicking out the rear taillight of a vehicle before being tackled by agents. Video footage does not include the moments leading up to the heated encounter.
A Pretti family representative told CBS News that the family knew about the incident and that Pretti sustained injuries, but did not receive medical care. The family could not be immediately reached for comment.
Senate Democrats, in the wake of Pretti’s death, have outlined three main demands for reforming Homeland Security ahead of an increasingly likely partial government shutdown.
They want Trump to end sweeping immigration checks known as “roving patrols,” demand more accountability for ICE and Border Patrol, including independent investigations and stricter use-of-force standards; and want officers to remove their masks and use body-worn cameras.
If congressional Republicans and the White House don’t negotiate over those requests, another funding crisis is imminent, warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Read more here.
Contributing: Charles Ventura and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Reuters