Federal officials are reinforcing immigration operations in the Twin Cities with more than 100 additional agents following a deadly confrontation that has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Trump administration is sending more than 100 additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers to Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a woman during an immigration enforcement protest in Minneapolis, according to a report by The New York Times.
The Department of Homeland Security is redeploying personnel from Chicago and New Orleans to strengthen federal operations in the Twin Cities, the report said, citing internal documents. DHS is also temporarily pausing some activities in Chicago and transferring nonlethal equipment from that city to Minnesota to support the expanded deployment.
The added CBP presence is expected to remain in place through the weekend, with agents scheduled to return to their home stations on Sunday. DHS declined to comment on specific operational details.
The move follows Wednesday’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during protests tied to immigration enforcement activity. Federal officials said Good, a U.S. citizen, attempted to use her vehicle to strike law enforcement officers and was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. State and local officials have challenged that account and called on federal immigration authorities to leave Minneapolis.
DHS has said it has already increased its footprint in Minnesota, deploying roughly 2,000 federal law enforcement officers to the Twin Cities, and has pledged to continue operations despite opposition from local officials.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said Thursday that agents briefly paused enforcement efforts immediately after the shooting but have since resumed. “We’re going to keep doing the work,” Lyons said in remarks reported by CNN.
The heightened federal presence comes as the administration has focused increased attention on Minnesota amid major fraud investigations involving COVID-19-era food assistance and other safety-net programs overseen by Gov. Tim Walz’s administration. Federal prosecutors have charged more than 90 people in those cases.
The expanded deployment underscores escalating tensions between federal immigration authorities and local leaders as enforcement operations continue in the region.
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