Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota to Scale Back After Fatal Shootings
Following a surge of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota that began over two months ago and was marked by two fatal shootings, the federal government will reduce its presence in the state. Border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday that 700 law enforcement personnel would be withdrawn from Minnesota immediately, according to CBS News.
The decision comes after the deaths of Renée Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24, who were fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. President Trump, in an interview with NBC News airing Wednesday, said the lesson learned from the operation in Minnesota is to use a "little bit of a softer touch." He added, "I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough."
Despite the reduction, approximately 2,000 agents will remain in the state, Homan said Wednesday. The announcement followed "conversations" between federal authorities and Minnesota's top corrections official, Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell, according to CBS News. However, Schnell stated that details on the de-escalation remained "sketchy," with no immediate signs of a drawdown.
Homan cited an "unprecedented" level of cooperation between counties as a factor in the decision to reduce the number of agents. The operation in Minnesota, dubbed "Operation Metro Surge," has been the subject of a monthslong immigration crackdown.
The reduction in federal presence coincides with significant upheaval within the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota. The four prosecutors who spearheaded a $250 million fraud case, Joe Thompson, Harry Jacobs, Daniel Bobier, and Matthew Ebert, have all recently left the office, along with more than a dozen others, according to sources inside the office. The departures have left the office with as few as 17 assistant U.S. attorneys, down from 70 during the Biden administration. Jacobs was recently appointed as a judge to the bench in Hennepin County.
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