President Donald Trump has ordered border czar Tom Homan to take direct control of ICE operations in Minneapolis, as a federal judge weighs whether to halt a federal immigration surge in Minnesota after two U.S. citizens were killed during enforcement actions.
Trump said he held a “productive call” with Minnesota governor Tim Walz and that the two were “on a similar wavelength”, as pressure mounts on the administration to address growing public anger over the operation and the handling of the shootings.
A federal court in Minneapolis on Monday heard arguments from Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seeking a temporary restraining order against what the state calls an unprecedented deployment of federal immigration officers. Judge Katherine Menendez ended the hearing without issuing an immediate ruling.
The Justice Department told the court that about 4,000 federal agents have been surged to Minnesota, including roughly 2,000 from ICE and 2,000 from Customs and Border Protection.
The White house sets conditions for scaling back operation
The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had outlined a “clear and simple path to restoring law and order” to Walz.
She said Minnesota officials are being asked to transfer “all criminal illegal aliens currently incarcerated” and those with active warrants or known criminal histories to federal authorities, to hand over undocumented people arrested by local police, and to assist federal agents in locating and detaining people wanted for crimes, “especially violent crimes”.
Leavitt said if those steps are taken, “Customs and Border Patrol will not be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota”. She added that CBP is conducting its own internal review.
Leavitt confirmed that Homan will be the “main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis”, while Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino will continue to lead the agency nationwide.
Shootings under investigation
The latest confrontation centres on the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, who was shot dead on Saturday during an altercation with Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Pretti approached officers with a “semi-automatic handgun” and “reacted violently”.
Leavitt said Trump has not described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist”, despite such language being used by some administration figures, and stressed that multiple investigations are under way by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and CBP.
Earlier this month, another U.S. citizen, Renee Good, was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration operation in Minneapolis.
Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison said he is concerned that body-camera footage or video from Pretti’s phone may not be preserved, prompting his office to seek a court order to ensure evidence is not destroyed or altered.
Community tension and political pressure
The immigration surge and the two fatal shootings have triggered protests, legal challenges and unease across Minneapolis, particularly within immigrant communities.
Republican senator Lindsey Graham described Trump’s decision to send Homan as “a very smart move”, saying he is “the right man to find a way to de-escalate the situation”.
The White House insists Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem retains Trump’s “utmost trust” and continues to lead the department, including oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as winter storms affect large parts of the country.
Judge Menendez said the court recognises the gravity of the case but did not indicate when a decision on halting the operation would be issued.
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