MINNEAPOLIS — Federal immigration agencies announced plans Thursday to reduce agents and operations in Minnesota. The move follows protests and a fatal shooting involving federal officers.
Tom Homan, who was appointed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 26 to oversee regional operations, confirmed the decision today. Speaking at a press conference in Minneapolis, Homan admitted that federal agencies have made mistakes in the state. He said changes are needed to fix those problems and improve relations with the community.
Shooting and Unrest
The decision follows a Jan. 24 incident where federal agents shot and killed a U.S. citizen during a confrontation in Minneapolis. This was the second time in recent weeks that video captured a fatal clash between a citizen and federal agents in the city.
Tensions in the region were already high due to a sharp increase in federal deportations, which fueled the unrest currently gripping the city. According to federal officials, these events led to Homan’s appointment earlier this week to lead the local offices.
Working with Local Leaders
Homan said he is talking with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to plan the reduction. He described these meetings as "common-sense" cooperation to help organize the changes and address what sparked the protests.
The formal plan aims to prevent more unrest and improve how the agencies operate across the state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are currently working on the details of the plan to reduce the number of agents in the area.
Federal officials said they are finishing the details of the staff cuts, though they did not specify when the reduction would be completed. Homan noted that while federal immigration missions in the state have not been perfect, the new strategy aims to address the causes of the unrest and improve future operations.
