White House Border Czar Tom Homan traveled to Minnesota after presidential outreach, holding meetings with state and city leaders as federal immigration enforcement operations face mounting scrutiny and potential changes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
White House Border Czar Tom Homan traveled to Minnesota on Tuesday following what officials described as constructive telephone conversations between President Donald Trump, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey the previous day. During the visit, Homan first met with Walz before later meeting with Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
According to the governor’s office, Walz and Homan agreed that continued communication would be necessary as federal immigration operations continue in the state. Walz also assigned the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to serve as the primary liaison working directly with Homan on the state’s stated goals.
Walz reportedly discussed three specific priorities during the meeting: impartial investigations into Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, a swift and significant reduction in the number of federal personnel operating in Minnesota, and an end to what his office described as a campaign of “retribution” against the state. State officials indicated these priorities could complicate the Trump administration’s deportation agenda unless enforcement strategies are adjusted, a topic that has circulated widely in online discussion about the administration adapting tactics.
Walz’s office released a statement summarizing the meeting, stating: “Governor Walz met with Tom Homan this morning and reiterated Minnesota’s priorities: impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, a swift, significant reduction in the number of federal forces in Minnesota, and an end to the campaign of retribution against Minnesota. The Governor and Homan agreed on the need for an ongoing dialogue and will continue working toward those goals, which the President also agreed to yesterday. The Governor tasked the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as the primary liaison to Homan to ensure these goals are met.”
Later Tuesday, Homan met with Frey and O’Hara, a meeting the mayor’s office described as productive. Frey’s primary request was that Operation Metro Surge be brought to an end as quickly as possible. Operation Metro Surge is a large joint enforcement effort involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol personnel that has drawn sustained opposition and unrest in recent weeks.
In a statement released by Frey’s office, the mayor said: “I appreciated the conversation the chief and I had with Border Czar Homan. During our meeting, I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to come to an end as quickly as possible. Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust – not tactics that create fear or division.”
Frey added: “I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers. I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe. City leaders will continue to stay in conversation with Mr. Homan and his team.”
The meetings occurred as senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and several Border Patrol agents departed Minnesota on Tuesday. With those departures, Homan assumed control of deportation operations in the state, becoming the Trump administration’s primary point of contact for on-the-ground federal enforcement activities.
Officials have not disclosed how many Border Patrol agents will ultimately leave Minnesota or whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will also be reassigned, leaving the scope of the remaining federal presence unclear.
The developments have renewed debate over immigration enforcement policy. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to prior Democratic administrations, noting that large-scale deportation operations were carried out under President Barack Obama, remarks that the administration cited as context for current political criticism of federal enforcement actions.
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