Minneapolis, United States. Tom Homan, described as President Donald Trump’s border czar, was set to take over the administration’s immigration operation in Minneapolis on Tuesday amid public outrage over a second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen this month by federal agents.
Leadership change and wider reset
Homan was set to replace top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who sources said is leaving after leading most of Trump’s immigration crackdowns in Democratic-led cities. The change was described as part of a broader reset by Trump amid concerns from some advisers that the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents could derail the president’s immigration agenda.
White House discussions on Minnesota operations
Trump spent the weekend meeting with senior advisers to reassess the administration’s response to Pretti’s death on Saturday, according to a White House official and a source familiar with the talks. The discussions included reducing the number of federal agents deployed to Minnesota, recalibrating the ICE mission in the state to focus more narrowly on deportations rather than broad enforcement operations, and exploring greater coordination with state authorities.
The White House official said Trump also weighed whether immigration officers should be required to have body-worn cameras, as many police officers do.
Shooting of Alex Pretti and reaction
Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents on Saturday during protests, according to the source text. The shooting has become a political crisis for Trump, with some Republicans in Congress calling for investigations.
The incident followed the fatal shooting earlier this month of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, prompting renewed anger over aggressive tactics by about 3,000 federal agents who have been roving the streets of Minneapolis for weeks.
Judge orders ICE leader to appear
Late on Monday, Minnesota’s chief federal judge ordered the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, to appear for a contempt hearing on Friday after the judge said the agency failed to comply with court orders requiring bond hearings for some detainees.
“The court’s patience is at an end,” U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote.
Video contradicts initial claims; polling shows waning support
Bystander video of Pretti’s killing was widely shared, contradicting initial claims by some Trump officials that Pretti posed a threat to law enforcement. The source text said Pretti was legally carrying a concealed gun but never touched it prior to being shot.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed public support for Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics appeared to be waning both before and after Pretti’s shooting. Some Republicans have voiced concern that without a shift in tactics, Trump’s mass deportation push could cost the party its congressional majorities in November’s midterm elections.
What changes, if any, do you think should be made to federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota?
