In his inaugural press conference in Minneapolis, newly appointed border chief Tom Homan committed to continuing federal immigration operations while implementing significant tactical changes. The event followed weeks of escalating tensions and deadly protests against undocumented migrant roundups in the Minnesota city.
Homan, appointed by President Donald Trump to oversee immigration enforcement operations, emphasized a recalibrated approach focused on ‘targeted enforcement operations’ rather than mission abandonment. ‘We are not surrendering our mission at all,’ Homan stated. ‘We’re just doing it smarter.’
The border czar called for reduced hostilities against federal agents, denouncing what he characterized as ‘hateful rhetoric.’ This conciliatory tone marked a distinct departure from previous leadership under Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who has since been replaced following public outrage over the shooting deaths of two American protestors.
Homan acknowledged operational deficiencies, noting that ‘certain improvements could and should be made’ in consultation with President Trump and administration officials. He pledged accountability for agents violating conduct codes, referencing the ongoing investigation into agents involved in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Veterans Hospital nurse Alex Pretti.
The political confrontation extends beyond Minneapolis to Congressional chambers, where Democrats threaten to block government funding authorizations without immigration agency reforms. Meanwhile, federal judiciary interventions have complicated enforcement efforts, with one judge halting refugee detentions in Minnesota and another criticizing ICE leadership for allegedly violating court orders.
The administration’s focus on Minnesota connects to an ongoing probe into alleged corruption among Somali immigrants, which Trump and conservative allies have highlighted as emblematic of broader immigration concerns. The political climate has intensified with repeated targeting of Somali-born Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, including a recent incident where an assailant sprayed her with an unknown substance during a public speech.