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White House border czar Tom Homan vowed Thursday to remain in Minnesota leading Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations there “until the problem is gone.”
Homan made the statement during a Thursday morning news conference, his first since President Donald Trump sent him to the Twin Cities earlier this week. He said the administration is working on a “drawdown plan” to decrease the presence of federal agents in the state.
The border chief said he had a “very productive” meeting with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday. Ellison agreed to notify ICE when local jails were releasing violent illegal aliens, a major request from federal law enforcement.
“One ICE agent can arrest one bad guy when he’s behind the safety and security of a jail when he’s behind bars and we know he doesn’t have weapons,” Homan said. “But when you release that public safety threat illegal alien back into the community – we have a job to do. We’re going to arrest him, so we’re going to find him.”
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Border czar Tom Homan speaks during a news conference about ongoing immigration enforcement operations on January 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“So now what happens is now we’ve got to arrest somebody on his turf where he has access to who knows what weapons. Now we’ve got to send a whole team out,” Homan explained.
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Homan went on to demand that the “hostile rhetoric” and threats against ICE officers has to stop, vowing that agents will remain in the Twin Cities to do their jobs.
The Trump administration has accused Minnesota leaders of encouraging harassment of federal law enforcement, singling out Ellison, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Federal agents make a traffic stop on a U.S. citizen as they provide their identification including a passport and driver’s license, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. (Adam Gray/AP Photo)
“President Trump wants this fixed and I’m going to fix it with your help,” Homan said.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, left, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, center, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, right, have faced criticism from the Trump administration. (Monica Morgan/Getty Images; Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images; Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
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Trump deployed Homan to Minnesota after heated clashes between anti-ICE agitators and federal agents across the Twin Cities. The unrest resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of law enforcement.
This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.
