The Trump administration is withdrawing 700 federal agents from Minnesota amid widespread protests of aggressive immigration operations in the region. Tom Homan, the White House border czar, said the drawdown is “effective immediately” and resulted from progress made across Minneapolis and the state.
The officers could begin leaving the Minneapolis area as early as Wednesday, Homan said.
JUST IN: Trump border czar Tom Homan said they will "draw down" 700 agents in the Minneapolis area "effective immediately."https://t.co/Vg5KaOlJaO pic.twitter.com/5jLhsFkNs1
— ABC News (@ABC) February 4, 2026
“We’re not walking away from our mission,” Homan said. “This is smart law enforcement.”
About 2,300 federal immigration officers will remain in the state, and Homan said immigration efforts are still underway. He said that “federal immigration agents are taking bad people off the street,” including 14 people charged with homicide and 139 with assault.
Protests against the immigration operation are continuing, intensifying after federal officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
While acknowledging citizens’ right to protest, Homan said immigration agents need to be able to work without being assaulted.
“I know the sacrifices you make,” he said of immigration officers. “I wore that green uniform. I love the United States Border Control. I was an ICE agent… The president is with you.”
Homan on body cameras
Homan also provided additional updates on immigration efforts, addressing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s announcement that immigration officers would begin wearing body cameras. He said the plan is for officers to wear them nationwide, although Minnesota is the priority,.
He said that Trump supports the plan because “we have nothing to hide.”
Homan in Minneapolis
The news comes days after Trump ordered a leadership shakeup in the Minnesota immigration effort and put Homan in charge.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino departed Minneapolis after making unsubstantiated claims that Pretti, the man ICE agents shot and killed last month, intended to “massacre” immigration agents.
Homan replaced Bovino as the leading face of the efforts in Minnesota, saying “President Trump wants this fixed, and I’m going to fix it.”
Since his arrival, immigration agents have received new guidance instructing them to avoid engaging with “agitators.”
