White House “border czar” Tom Homan arrived in Minneapolis Tuesday to begin a strategic reset of federal immigration operations following weeks of deadly violence and civil unrest. Homan’s mission is to secure critical concessions from Democratic leaders, specifically demanding that state prisons and jails turn over a broader range of undocumented immigrants. This visit marks a significant shift in the administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” as Homan looks to swap aggressive street raids for a more targeted, methodical enforcement model.
The high-pressure negotiations involved Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, both of whom have been warring with the Trump administration over the recent fatal shootings of two residents by federal agents. In exchange for the surrender of non-citizens in local custody, Homan is reportedly offering a drawdown of the 2,000 federal agents currently occupying the Twin Cities. While street protests were notably muted following Homan’s arrival, Mayor Frey remains defiant, insisting the city will not enforce federal immigration laws despite being under a Justice Department subpoena.
The arrival of Homan signals the end of the brief and chaotic tenure of Commander Greg Bovino, who was removed and reassigned to the southern border after his tactics led to clashes and national outcry. Homan, a four-decade veteran of ICE and Border Patrol, is known for a “low-key” approach that prioritizes criminal targets over mass visibility. However, he now faces the ultimate challenge: proving to the President that a quieter strategy can still deliver the record-breaking arrest numbers promised to the American public.
