President Donald Trump has moved to place White House Border Czar Tom Homan in direct control of federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, a decision that comes amid escalating political tension and public unrest following recent fatal shootings involving federal agents.“I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.
The decision represents a shift in command structure, with Homan reporting directly to the president rather than operating through the Department of Homeland Security. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who had been overseeing the federal response, was effectively sidelined as the White House moved to consolidate authority at the presidential level.
Federal operations in Minneapolis have come under intense scrutiny following two separate fatal encounters involving immigration enforcement officers earlier this month. The latest took place over the weekend when a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, who was armed and confronted agents attempting to arrested suspected violent criminal alien in the country illegally.
Earlier in the month, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good after she alleged gunned her vehicle and struck the agent. Good and her wife had reportedly followed and dogged agents throughout the day. She refused to get out of her vehicle when commanded to do so by ICE, instead choosing to flee, striking an agent in the process.
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Those incidents have been used by left-wing organizations to spark protests, criticism from state and local Democratic officials, and competing political narratives about federal authority, public safety, and immigration enforcement.
In announcing the move, Trump signaled that immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota would continue and that the federal government would not withdraw agents in response to political pressure. Homan, a longtime immigration official with decades of enforcement experience, is expected to oversee operational coordination, messaging, and engagement with state leadership.
The president said Homan would also serve as the primary point of contact with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as federal and state officials attempt to navigate rising tensions following protests and public criticism of immigration operations. Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have previously called for federal agents to scale back their presence, citing concerns about public safety and community trust.
Trump also announced on his social media platform that he had spoken to both Walz and Frey on Monday.
Of Walz, Trump wrote: “Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession. The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future. He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I! We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have ‘touched’ and, even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!”
He wrote of his conversation with Frey: “I just had a very good telephone conversation with Mayor Jacob Frey, of Minneapolis. Lots of progress is being made! Tom Homan will be meeting with him tomorrow in order to continue the discussion.”
Meanwhile, administration officials view the appointment of Homan as a stabilizing move intended to impose clearer leadership and discipline over a rapidly evolving situation. Homan has previously emphasized targeted enforcement, coordination with local authorities where possible, and adherence to federal law.
