As federal immigration tactics face mounting legal and political scrutiny after U.S. agents fatally shot a Minneapolis man over the weekend,President Trump announced Monday that he was dispatching his border advisor Tom homan to Minnesota.
Until now, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino has overseen the federal government’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota. But as the Trump governance’s Department of Homeland Security faces widespread criticism for its aggressive tactics as it launched Operation Metro Surge in December, Trump signaled Monday that he could be shifting strategy as he deploys Homan to the region.
“He has not been involved in that area,but knows and likes many of the people ther,” Trump said of Homan on Truth Social. “Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”
In a sign that the Trump administration might potentially be questioning its hard-line immigration approach in Minneapolis,Bovino and some federal agents are expected to leave the city as early as Tuesday,a source told the Associated Press.
Muzaffar Chishti – an attorney and immigration policy expert at the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank - said no one knows what Trump will do next, but homan’s arrival in Minnesota marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
“There was a big rift here between seasoned ICE officers and these new troopers,” Chishti said. “This may become the moment were things begin to change, if not fully reverse. I would be surprised if we don’t see some change.”
Trump said Monday that he had a “very good call” with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who called on the president this weekend to “pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota.”
“We,actually,seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial.
“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,” Trump added. “The Governor, very respectfully, understood that… He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!”
Walz’s office described the call as “productive,” noting that Trump agreed to talk to Homeland Security officials about enabling the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to conduct an self-reliant inquiry into the fatal shooting of alex Pretti.
“The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals,” Walz’s office said.
Trump’s latest statements come as a federal judge heard arguments Monday on whether to temporarily halt his administration’s immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Simultaneously occurring, Democratic senators plan to oppose a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, raising the possibility of a partial government shutdown. A small but growing number of Republicans – including former Vice President Mike Pence – have also joined Democratic calls for a thorough investigation into Pretti’s killing.
The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, approached federal officers on the street Saturday morning with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun.
Federal Response to protests and Immigration Enforcement Draws Scrutiny
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Former President Donald Trump addressed concerns about armed individuals at protests and the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis, while California lawmakers signaled increased resistance to federal immigration policies. the developments come amid ongoing tensions over law enforcement tactics and immigration enforcement.
trump Comments on Armed Protesters and Minneapolis Deployment
Former President Trump expressed disapproval of individuals carrying firearms at protests, stating, “But I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest and he’s got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn’t play good either.” He declined to comment on the actions of agents involved in a shooting incident involving a protester, stating a review was underway.
Regarding the deployment of federal agents to Minneapolis,Trump suggested a potential withdrawal,stating,”At some point we will leave,” but did not provide a specific timeline. He praised the agents’ performance, calling their work “phenomenal.”
California lawmakers Pledge Support for Minneapolis and Increased Oversight of ICE
California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) announced new legislation aimed at increasing accountability for the federal government and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.The California State Legislature is currently considering these measures.
“It seems like our very right to life is under attack,” Rivas said, expressing solidarity with Minneapolis. He called on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to take a stronger stance against federal policies or “step aside.”
California’s Existing Resistance to Federal Immigration Policies
California has previously enacted laws to limit federal immigration enforcement within its borders. One such law prohibits federal officers from wearing masks during enforcement duties. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently suing California over these measures, arguing they hinder federal law enforcement efforts. The lawsuit, filed November 17, 2025, challenges the constitutionality of California’s openness laws regarding police conduct.