President Donald Trump has made significant changes to his immigration enforcement operation, including a major shake-up in Minneapolis. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is expected to leave the city, following a second fatal shooting by federal officers that has sparked widespread criticism.
Bovino's leadership of the highly visible federal crackdowns, which have drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates, and congressional Democrats, will be replaced by Tom Homan, the president's border czar. Homan will report directly to the White House.
The Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has been met with resistance in Minnesota, where Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called for an end to the federal crackdowns. In a phone call with Trump, Frey asked the president to stop the immigration surge, and Trump agreed that the present situation cannot continue.
However, it appears that the administration's tone may have softened slightly, as President Trump posted on social media that he had a "productive conversation" with Governor Tim Walz, who has been critical of the enforcement operations. The two leaders seemed to be on a similar wavelength, according to Trump.
Meanwhile, attorneys for the state and cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are pushing back against the federal government's immigration operation in court. A US District Judge is considering whether to grant requests to temporarily halt the operation, citing concerns that it is being used as a means of punishment for sanctuary laws and policies.
The judge expressed skepticism about the administration's motivation behind the crackdown, asking if there is no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law. The case has implications for other states that have been or could become targets of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement operations.
As the situation continues to unfold, protesters gathered outside a hotel where Bovino was believed to be staying, blowing whistles and banging pots in protest. The departure of Bovino marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
Bovino's leadership of the highly visible federal crackdowns, which have drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates, and congressional Democrats, will be replaced by Tom Homan, the president's border czar. Homan will report directly to the White House.
The Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has been met with resistance in Minnesota, where Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called for an end to the federal crackdowns. In a phone call with Trump, Frey asked the president to stop the immigration surge, and Trump agreed that the present situation cannot continue.
However, it appears that the administration's tone may have softened slightly, as President Trump posted on social media that he had a "productive conversation" with Governor Tim Walz, who has been critical of the enforcement operations. The two leaders seemed to be on a similar wavelength, according to Trump.
Meanwhile, attorneys for the state and cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are pushing back against the federal government's immigration operation in court. A US District Judge is considering whether to grant requests to temporarily halt the operation, citing concerns that it is being used as a means of punishment for sanctuary laws and policies.
The judge expressed skepticism about the administration's motivation behind the crackdown, asking if there is no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law. The case has implications for other states that have been or could become targets of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement operations.
As the situation continues to unfold, protesters gathered outside a hotel where Bovino was believed to be staying, blowing whistles and banging pots in protest. The departure of Bovino marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Minnesota.