Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota to Scale Back After Fatal Shootings
Following a surge of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, the federal government will withdraw 700 law enforcement personnel from the state immediately, according to Border Czar Tom Homan. The announcement came Wednesday, weeks after the fatal shootings of Renée Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24 by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.
President Trump addressed the situation in an interview with NBC News airing Wednesday, stating that the lesson learned from the operation in Minnesota was to use "a little bit of a softer touch" in federal immigration enforcement. "I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch," Trump said, while also adding, "But you still have to be tough."
Homan stated that approximately 2,000 agents would remain in the state after the reduction. He also cited an "unprecedented" level of cooperation between counties as a factor in the decision to scale back the operation.
The immigration crackdown in Minnesota had been ongoing for months. Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell told CBS News that there had been "conversations" with the federal government, including with people who report to Homan, regarding a possible de-escalation. However, Schnell noted that details remained "sketchy," with no immediate signs of a drawdown of federal forces.
The increased federal presence in Minnesota and the tactics employed had drawn scrutiny following the deaths of Good and Pretti. Investigations into the shootings are ongoing.
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