President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, spoke with reporters on Thursday, Feb. 12, announcing that the federal immigration crackdown in Minneapolis known as “Operation Metro Surge” will soon end following significant pushback from the community.
“I’m very pleased to report that this surge operation and our work here with state and local officials to improve coordination and achieve mutual goals, as well as our efforts to address issues of a concern here on the ground, have yielded the successful results we came here for,” Homan said.
He claimed the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol has “greatly reduced the number of targets for enforcement action” and that many “criminal aliens” were arrested and removed from the streets.
“Those that say we are backing down from immigration enforcement or the promise of mass deportations, you are simply wrong,” Homan added. “Look at the data. Record number of arrests and deportations under President Trump’s first year. And we’ll continue that effort.”
The former ICE director said he was sent to Minnesota after several violent incidents involving immigration officials, including the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both were shot at close range in broad daylight while surrounded by federal officers.
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“President Trump didn’t send me here because the operations were being run and conducted perfectly,” Homan said. “I came here to identify issues and implement solutions to improve our mission execution.”
He acknowledged there were problems but avoided assigning direct blame. “There were some issues here, and we addressed those issues,” he said. “But I’m not going to sit here and say anybody did anything wrong… or that they were unprofessional.”
Homan also pointed to federal law that makes it a crime to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with federal law enforcement officers.
“I’ve been saying over and over that… doing that is a crime in violation of USC 111,” he said. “It’s not okay. It will not be tolerated. Zero tolerance if you cross that line and put hands on an ICE officer.”
He added that such confrontations are dangerous and said recent events have had “tragic consequences,” along with negative effects on local businesses.
Homan also suggested that ICE could pursue targets in sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, and houses of worship if agents believe those individuals are there.
“I want to say something about the various unfounded complaints I’m hearing about ICE enforcement operations,” he said. “During the surge operation, ICE has not arrested anybody inside a hospital. We have not arrested anybody inside of a school… We have not arrested anybody inside a church.”
“However, those locations are not off the table,” Homan added. “I said day one, there’s no sanctuary for a significant public safety threat or national security threat.”
While some immigration officers in Minneapolis will be reassigned to their home stations or other regions, Homan said regular enforcement in the city will continue.
“Through targeted enforcement operations, based on reasonable suspicion and prioritizing safety and security, ICE will continue to identify, arrest, and remove illegal aliens that pose a risk to public safety like we’ve done for years,” he said.
“We’re going to continue to enforce immigration law. That’s what American people voted for,” Homan added. “But it has to be a priority of criminals. I’ll say it again: President Trump made a promise of mass deportation, and that’s what this country is going to get.”
