Trump Administration to Reduce Federal Immigration Presence in Minneapolis After Enforcement Surge
The Trump administration announced it would remove 700 federal immigration agents from Minneapolis following a month-long enforcement surge that stirred controversy and resulted in two deaths, according to White House border czar Tom Homan. The drawdown was revealed at a press conference in the city on Wednesday, with Homan citing "unprecedented cooperation between federal and local officials" as the reason for the reduction.
The departing agents would be drawn from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homan stated. However, approximately 2,000 federal law enforcement officers would remain in the area. "This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement," Homan said, emphasizing that a complete pullback of federal agents would depend on Minneapolis's continued cooperation.
The enforcement surge had drawn criticism, with some characterizing it as an "occupation" of Minneapolis. Critics, like Vox's Ian Millhiser, argued that the Justice Department's actions under the Trump administration were compromising its ability to function effectively.
The increased federal presence and enforcement actions also drew the attention of individuals like Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer now running for Congress in Maryland. Dunn, who witnessed the January 6th Capitol attack, drew parallels between the actions of the immigration agents and the mob he confronted that day. "They are terrorizing people more than serving," Dunn said of the immigration agents. "And law enforcement is supposed to be about serving. That is not what we are seeing now." Dunn is campaigning on a platform that includes dismantling what he views as Donald Trump's restrictive immigration policies.
The withdrawal announcement came amid scrutiny of fatal shootings involving ICE agents during the crackdown. The situation in Minneapolis has raised questions about the balance between federal immigration enforcement and community concerns.
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