Washington (AP) — Tom Homan, the White House border czar, shared on Sunday that over 1,000 immigration agents are leaving Minnesota’s Twin Cities area as part of a broader reduction in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. Homan noted that a “small” security team will remain temporarily to protect the agents left behind. He didn’t specify what “small” means.
Even with these reductions, agents will continue to look into allegations of fraud and investigate protests that have disrupted church services. Homan mentioned that they’ve already deported over 1,000 individuals and plan to remove several hundred more soon. “We’ll return to our original footprint,” he said.
Originally, thousands of officers participated in “Operation Metro Surge,” which the Department of Homeland Security labeled as its largest immigration operation. However, this crackdown increasingly faced backlash, especially after two U.S. citizens were killed during encounters with officers.
The community response was fierce, with many residents stepping in to support immigrants. They provided warnings about approaching agents and documented the actions of immigration officers. The tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti raised significant concerns about officer conduct and prompted a reassessment of the operation.
Homan previously announced that 700 federal officers would be leaving Minnesota immediately, though over 2,000 agents would remain. He confirmed that while enforcement will continue in the Twin Cities, mass deportations will still take place nationwide. When asked about potential future operations on the scale of the Twin Cities effort, he stated that would depend on the circumstances.
Recent data suggests an increased regional focus on immigration enforcement, with a notable rise in community support networks for affected families. A 2023 survey found that nearly 62% of Minnesotans support more humane immigration policies, highlighting a shift in public opinion. This growing sentiment reflects a broader trend across the U.S., where communities are taking action to protect their immigrant neighbors amid changing enforcement strategies.
For more information on immigration statistics and public opinion, you can visit the [Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org) for detailed reports and analyses.
Source link
Tom Homan, Donald Trump, Minnesota, Immigration, Alex Pretti, St. Paul, United States government, Minneapolis, General news, MN State Wire, Send to Apple News, United States, AP Top News, Washington news, Renee Good, U.S. news, Politics, U.S. News
