Trump Appoints Border Czar Homan to Address Minneapolis Shooting Concerns

The White House announced on Monday that border czar Tom Homan will manage Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota and will travel to Minneapolis following the shooting and killing of a second U.S. citizen by immigration officers during enforcement actions.

President Donald Trump mentioned in a social media post on Monday that although Homan “has not been involved in that area, he knows and likes many of the people there.”

The president further stated, “Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”

In another post, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted that Homan “will be managing ICE operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”

Leavitt added that Homan’s role will also include coordinating investigations into alleged corruption by charities in Minneapolis linked to the state’s large Somali community.

The decision to dispatch Homan, a seasoned immigration agent who led ICE during the first Trump administration, indicates a change in strategy. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has prioritized deportation numbers, placing Border Patrol in charge of operations typically led by ICE.

Meanwhile, Homan has advocated for a more targeted deportation strategy, focusing on detaining and removing unauthorized immigrants with criminal backgrounds.

This development occurs amid increased public scrutiny following the Saturday shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by immigration officers in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security and other senior Trump administration officials quickly blamed Pretti for the incident, claiming Pretti was armed and that the officers were justified in using deadly force. However, videos circulating on social media do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon, and Pretti was legally permitted to carry a weapon according to Minnesota law.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Trump distanced himself from the shooting, stating that the administration is investigating the incident and refrained from commenting on whether the officers adhered to protocol.

“We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” Trump stated.

Conservatives have expressed dissatisfaction with DHS and Noem following the shooting. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee have requested that the leadership of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appear before them to answer lawmakers’ questions.

Some immigration advocates quickly commended the decision to send Homan to Minneapolis.

“There is no one who understands deportations better than Tom Homan. This is a great announcement from the White House,” said Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.).

Despite previous tensions with Homan, Noem publicly praised the decision on Monday, stating that Homan "has been a major asset to our team — his experience and insight will help us in our broad fraud investigations, which have deprived Americans, and will aid us in removing more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens from the streets of Minneapolis."