Trump deploys border czar to Minnesota after immigration shootings

2026-01-27 - 09:18

President Donald Trump announced the deployment of his top border official, Tom Homan, to Minnesota on Monday, intensifying federal involvement in a state rocked by tensions over immigration enforcement. The move comes after two American citizens were killed in separate shootings involving federal agents during immigration operations, leading to widespread protests in Minneapolis. Coordinating operations and fraud allegations In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated Homan, who oversees mass deportation efforts, would "report directly" to him and manage Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on the ground. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Homan's role includes coordinating investigations into alleged "massive, widespread fraud" in Minnesota, referencing unproven claims about daycare centers pushed by right-wing figures, which local authorities deny. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Homan's arrival "good news for peace, safety, and accountability." Contrasting accounts of talks with state leadership Trump portrayed his discussions with Minnesota's Democratic leadership as cooperative. He said Governor Tim Walz requested enforcement cooperation and that they "seemed to be on a similar wavelength." In a separate statement, Trump also noted a "very good telephone conversation" with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. However, Governor Walz offered a different emphasis, stating he told the president "we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota." Background of escalating tensions The deployment follows Trump's public pressure on Minnesota officials to allow ICE to "do their job," claiming the arrest of "12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals" had prevented worse violence. The situation highlights the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement and federal overreach, set against a backdrop of community unrest in Minnesota. Homan is expected to meet directly with local officials to continue discussions.