The administration under Donald Trump is decreasing the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota, where two local residents were fatally shot by federal officers last month, according to border czar Tom Homan on Wednesday.
Homan announced during a news conference that approximately 700 federal agents will be pulled out from the immigration operation in Minnesota. This decision comes after protests from local officials and citizens who criticized the federal agents for their aggressive tactics, which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
The victims, 37-year-old Renee Good and critical-care nurse Alex Pretti, were shot and killed by ICE and Border Patrol officers, respectively. Another resident was also shot in the leg by a federal officer between these fatal incidents.
Operation Metro Surge, which began in early December, currently involves around 3,000 federal officers in the state. Homan mentioned that the departing officers would include a combination of personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) but did not specify exact numbers.
The federal government defended the surge, stating it is necessary to remove criminal immigrants from the streets, especially due to challenges posed by state and local sanctuary laws and policies.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged for a quicker reduction in federal presence, emphasizing the need for state-led investigations into the deaths of Good and Pretti and an end to what he called a retaliatory campaign.
Following the fatal shootings, Trump administration officials initially justified the incidents, portraying the victims as activists obstructing law enforcement. However, videos later emerged contradicting some of these claims.
In response to the escalating situation, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently announced that all ICE and CBP officers on the ground will be equipped with body-worn cameras for accountability.
Democrats have been pushing for reforms to rein in the administration’s immigration enforcement actions, proposing stricter rules for ICE and CBP officers in light of the Minneapolis shootings and previous incidents in Chicago.
Homan emphasized that a full reduction to pre-surge officer levels hinges on ceasing activities targeting ICE officers. He cited nearly 160 cases involving individuals charged with intimidating or obstructing federal officers.
Despite these developments, tensions remain high in Minnesota, with recent incidents of immigration officers with drawn guns arresting activists in Minneapolis. The arrests were made as activists allegedly impeded the arrest of an undocumented individual.
The Justice Department’s handling of the cases has raised concerns, particularly regarding the investigation into Pretti’s shooting compared to the lack of a civil rights inquiry into Good’s death. These discrepancies have led to calls for transparency and accountability.
As debates continue over federal immigration enforcement policies, internal dissent within the Justice Department has been noted, with several attorneys and supervisory agents resigning in protest over the handling of the Minneapolis shootings.