{"id":1404089,"date":"2026-02-04T12:25:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thenewsherald.com\/?p=1404089&preview=true&preview_id=1404089"},"modified":"2026-02-04T13:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T18:54:00","slug":"tom-homan-25-cut-ice-agents-minneapolis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenewsherald.com\/2026\/02\/04\/tom-homan-25-cut-ice-agents-minneapolis\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Homan announces 25% reduction of ICE agents in Minneapolis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Border czar Tom Homan Wednesday announced an immediate 25% cut in federal agents<\/a> carrying out the Trump administration\u2019s Minneapolis anti-immigration operation that has led to the killings of two U.S. citizens in the past month.<\/p>\n

Homan said he has ordered 700 federal agents to leave the flashpoint city<\/a> after touting improved cooperation from state and local officials since Trump tapped him to take over leadership of the operation.<\/p>\n

He said about 2,000 officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol and other agencies remain in the Twin Cities<\/a>, but held out the possibility of further drawdowns if conditions improve.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need for less public safety officers to do this work and a safer environment, I am announcing, effective immediately, we\u2019ll draw down 700 people effective today,\u201d Homan told reporters.<\/p>\n

\"White
White House 'border czar' Tom Homan speaks during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pullback suggests Trump wants to ease tensions in Minneapolis<\/a>, especially after the killing of protester Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents has drawn widespread criticism.<\/p>\n

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said the pullback \u201cis not enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cAll of ICE needs to leave Minneapolis now,\u201d Schumer tweeted.<\/p>\n

Even as he announced the partial withdrawal, Homan stuck with his trademark tough-talking stance<\/a>, blaming protesters for the violence even though videos have shown them mostly acting peacefully.<\/p>\n

Homan blamed protesters\u2019 \u201crhetoric\u201d and \u201copposition\u201d for sparking confrontations<\/a> with ICE and Border Patrol, despite the fact that they have a First Amendment right to protest the crackdown.<\/p>\n

\"Backdropped
Backdropped by posters with images of Renne Good and Alex Pretti, the two US citizens recently shot and killed by federal immigration officers, a resident of Minneapolis mans a corner to keep an eye out for ICE agents near a school where some students were recently arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 29, 2026. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The White House has long blamed sanctuary cities and states<\/a>, which limit law enforcement cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, for shielding undocumented immigrants from arrest and deportation.<\/p>\n

Critics say immigration agents should stick to tracking down criminals instead of ordinary undocumented immigrants<\/a> who have no criminal records. They also want the feds to stop carrying out random sweeps of suspected undocumented immigrants and demanding proof of citizenship.<\/p>\n