Tom Homan, the newly appointed border enforcement chief, has announced plans to reduce the number of ICE agents in Minnesota as part of an effort to de-escalate tensions following a string of fatal shootings involving federal authorities.
Homan, who was sent to the state by President Donald Trump, believes that by decreasing the presence of ICE officers on the streets and focusing on getting access to jails and prisons, he can reduce the number of agents in the field. "More agents in the jail means less agents in the street," he said, highlighting a common-sense approach to cooperation with local officials.
However, Homan made it clear that his efforts are contingent upon cooperation from local authorities. He has reportedly had meaningful dialogue with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Homan's arrival in the state follows the killing of 23-year-old Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday, as well as the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month. The incidents sparked widespread protests and backlash against federal authorities.
While Homan has called for "hostile rhetoric" to cease, unlike some recent comments from his predecessors, he supports protesters' First Amendment rights. He emphasized the importance of professionalism among ICE officers, stating that those who fail to meet expectations will be held accountable.
Homan's background in immigration enforcement is extensive, with decades of experience dating back to the Reagan administration. He was previously the director of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump's first term and received a Presidential Rank Award from President Barack Obama in 2015 for his work.
Homan, who was sent to the state by President Donald Trump, believes that by decreasing the presence of ICE officers on the streets and focusing on getting access to jails and prisons, he can reduce the number of agents in the field. "More agents in the jail means less agents in the street," he said, highlighting a common-sense approach to cooperation with local officials.
However, Homan made it clear that his efforts are contingent upon cooperation from local authorities. He has reportedly had meaningful dialogue with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Homan's arrival in the state follows the killing of 23-year-old Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday, as well as the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month. The incidents sparked widespread protests and backlash against federal authorities.
While Homan has called for "hostile rhetoric" to cease, unlike some recent comments from his predecessors, he supports protesters' First Amendment rights. He emphasized the importance of professionalism among ICE officers, stating that those who fail to meet expectations will be held accountable.
Homan's background in immigration enforcement is extensive, with decades of experience dating back to the Reagan administration. He was previously the director of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump's first term and received a Presidential Rank Award from President Barack Obama in 2015 for his work.
. I'm glad he's pushing for agents to be focused on getting access to jails and prisons, but at the same time, it's essential to keep a human touch when dealing with complex immigration issues 
I mean, think about it, if they're not patrolling the streets, who's gonna be around to keep an eye on people trying to sneak in? It just seems like a temporary solution to a bigger problem. Plus, have we really seen any real progress with immigration enforcement under previous administrations? 
And what about all these protests and rioting that are happening now... isn't that just going to continue? I'm not saying Homan's ideas aren't worth considering, but I think we need more than just some token changes to make a real difference. 
. and good luck with the "meaningful dialogue" thing... governors and mayors always seem to be on board for a little while, then things get messy again 
. still, I suppose it's nice to hear Homan advocating for professionalism among ICE officers - finally, someone's talking about accountability 
. fingers crossed this whole thing doesn't blow up in our faces again 
.
. it's all about cooperation with local officials now, huh? guess that explains why the governor and mayor were already having "meaningful dialogue" before he even arrived 
. anyway, can't wait to see how this plays out...
... I mean, you can't blame him for wanting to keep a lid on things, right? But at the same time, reducing their presence in the field might make some people feel like they're not being taken seriously enough. And honestly, I think Homan is trying to do what he thinks is best - just from a different angle. He's talking about cooperation with local officials and using resources more efficiently... it's all about finding that middle ground, you know? 
he's got some solid points about having more agents in jails than on the streets 
and it's awesome that he's had good conversations with gov tim walz, mayor frey, and ag Keith ellison 
he's got the skills and the experience to get the job done, especially with all those years under trump and obama 
like, who else can say they've been doing this for decades?!? plus, he's already making moves to reduce tensions by focusing on jails and prisons - i'm here. for. it 
and yeah, i know some ppl might be skeptical, but homan seems like a straight shooter who just wants to get things done 
.
. It's like, less agents on the streets means less chance of things going wrong, you know? But at the same time, he's saying that local authorities gotta cooperate with him too 
. I guess it's a win-win situation for everyone...or is it? 
Anyway, I'm keeping an eye on how this all plays out 
. He also seems to be taking the right approach by emphasizing professionalism among his officers - you can't expect people to respect them if they're being aggressive or hostile