On Thursday, Border Czar Tom Homan gathered the press to update the nation on what has transpired in Minneapolis over the last few days. Homan made it perfectly clear: "We are not surrendering the president's mission on immigration enforcement."
As RedState reported, after the second Minneapolis shooting death of an anti-ICE protester involving federal law enforcement, the unrest in Minneapolis grew worse. The first shooting was two weeks ago, when Renee Nicole Good rammed an ICE agent with her car and was shot in defense. The second was on Saturday when ICU Nurse Alex Pretti interfered with a Border Patrol targeted operation. Pretti was armed, and two BP agents shot him, alleging self-defense.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Chief at Large Greg Bovino came under fire for their remarks surrounding the Pretti shooting. This precipitated a shakeup in the oversight and direction of Operation Metro Surge. President Donald Trump requested Homan take over operations in Minneapolis, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, Homan sat down with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, MN Gov. Tim Walz, and the St. Paul Mayor to discuss operations moving forward.
At the press conference, Homan mainly read from prepared talking points so that he could hit the major points, but he often went off script to insert his own knowledge, experiences, and insight. Homan made it plain that his role in Minnesota was to work to reach "common sense cooperation" between elected leaders and local law enforcement, which "allows us to draw down. I said draw down."
I've been on the ground less than three full days, I got over here on Monday. President of the United States asked me to come. I'm staying until the problem's gone. But we've made a lot of progress. A lot of progress in the last three days.
Homan introduced Director of ICE Operations in Minneapolis Marcos Charles and ICE Commissioner Rodney Scott, then dove into his prepared remarks, starting with the crisis created by the Biden administration's open border policies, President Donald Trump's promise to secure the border, and his commitment to see it through to remove the criminal illegal elements allowed in by the Biden administration from America's interior.
WATCH:
.@RealTomHoman in Minneapolis: "@POTUS promised the American people, including the residents of Minnesota, that he would work to ensure our communities are safe...this administration is absolutely focused on identifying and removing aliens that pose a public safety threat and… pic.twitter.com/HrC2819vsZ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2026
@RealTomHoman in Minneapolis: " @POTUS promised the American people, including the residents of Minnesota, that he would work to ensure our communities are safe...this administration is absolutely focused on identifying and removing aliens that pose a public safety threat and national security threats—and the numbers prove it."
Homan then talked about cooperation between the elected officials of Minneapolis and Minnesota, and how that would look moving forward. Homan also emphasized his conversations with faith leaders and the community.
Bottom line: You can't fix problems if you don't have discussions. I didn't come to Minnesota for photo ops or headlines. I came here to seek solutions, and that's what we're going to do. And we've come a long ways and we've got some good winds for the people of Minnesota I think, and for the administration, and for the safety and security of this city.
Where they did agree: "Community safety is paramount. One thing we all agreed on: was that U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement is a legitimate law agency that has a duty to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and to keep this community safe.
WATCH:
.@RealTomHoman: In the past few days, I met with Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, Mayor Frey... One thing we all agreed on was that ICE is a legitimate law enforcement agency that has a duty to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and keep this community safe. pic.twitter.com/zCWU1wxOxl
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2026
Homan talked about his "very good meeting" with MN Attorney General Keith Ellison, and that Ellison "clarified for me" that the county jails may notify ICE about the criminal illegals in the jails, so that ICE can take custody of them. Homan emphasized that this is the safest way to fulfill the mission of removal and would facilitate the goal of drawdown so that fewer federal resources are being poured into the state.
WATCH:
.@RealTomHoman: "I'm also pleased to announce, I had a very good meeting with Attorney General Ellison, and he has clarified for me that county jails may notify ICE of the release dates of criminal public safety risks, so ICE can take custody of them..." pic.twitter.com/M2cMC8WHsi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2026
Homan also spoke about the accountability of ICE and Border Patrol to vet their work and ensure they are also following the laws.
We're not making this up folks: ICE is enforcing the laws enacted by Congress through a federal statute. That said, I am not here because the federal government has carried it's mission out perfectly[....] Nothing's ever perfect, anything can be improved upon.
The mission is going to improve because of the changes we are making.
I, along with others in the Administration have recognized that certain improvements could and should be made. That is exactly what I'm doing here.
WATCH:
.@RealTomHoman: "ICE is enforcing the laws enacted by Congress... No agency or organization is perfect, and @POTUS and I, along with others in the Administration have recognized that certain improvements could and should be made. That is exactly what I'm doing here." pic.twitter.com/8D6dyX0QdA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2026
Homan reemphasized that they will still conduct targeted, strategic enforcement operations. With a "prioritization of public safety threats."
We will conduct targeted enforcement operations. Targeted. What we've done for decades. We'll hit the streets, we know exactly who we're looking for. Good idea of where to find them. We have their criminal history, we have their immigration history.
We are not surrendering the president's mission on immigration enforcement. Let's make that clear.
WATCH:
.@RealTomHoman in Minneapolis: "I want to be clear. I don't read a lot of social media, I don't read a lot of media, because I don't believe half of what I see. We are NOT surrendering the President's mission on immigration enforcement." pic.twitter.com/hFxImH4uih
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2026
Homan then discussed the challenging environment that federal law enforcement officers work under — "tremendous circumstances."
But they are trying to do it with professionalism. If they don't they'll be dealt with. Like any other federal agency, we have standards of conduct. They are sworn law enforcement officers working tirelessly to enforce our country's border security, immigration laws, protecting the interest of our country, and preventing dangerous people from walking the streets of this nation when they're not supposed to be here to begin with. Men and women of ICE... I was a Border Patrol agent. I was an ICE agent. I was the first ICE director that came up through the ranks. For 40 years I've been doing this. These men and women who carry that badge and that gun, they're American Patriots. They put themselves on the line for this nation every day.
[...]
They're mothers and fathers too. They're sons and daughters too. They take a lot of damage home with them every day.
Because of this, Homan emphasized, the hostile rhetoric, the dangerous threats, and the hate must stop.
I have begged. I said in March that if the rhetoric didn't stop, there was going to be bloodshed. And there has been. I wish I wasn't right. I don't want to see anybody die. Not officers. Not members of the community. And not the targets of our operations.
Homan also called out the "peaceful protesters," telling them that, "If you want certain laws reformed, take it up with Congress."
WATCH:
🔥Tom Homan has a message for those terrorizing ICE:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 29, 2026
"I've begged for the last two months on TV for the rhetoric to stop. I said in March if the rhetoric didn't stop there was gonna be bloodshed. And there has been. I wish I wasn't right.
I don't want to see anybody die. Not… pic.twitter.com/MhQDVmlsNR
The last six presidents I've worked for. I started with President Reagan, and ending with President Trump. Every administration has enforced the same laws[....]
Go protest Congress, tell them you want change. You have your First Amendment right, that's important. I'm just asking you to keep it peaceful.
Threatening law enforcement officers, engaging in impeding and assault, it will never be okay. There will be zero tolerance.
With the goal of public safety being paramount, Homan alerted as to the changes that local law enforcement would enact:
The chiefs I've talked to have committed to responding to 911 calls when protesters turn violent, agents are in dangerous situation.[...] Not to enforce immigration law, but to keep the peace.
Homan called on local officials "to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, to tone down the dangerous rhetoric, and condemn all unlawful action against law enforcement in the community."
Homan thanked the officials, law enforcement, and community members whom he has met with, "and the many I'm going to meet with. We've had meaningful dialogue[...] President Trump wants this fixed, and I'm going to fix it, with your help."
Homan gave final remarks, thanking President Trump for securing the border, and asked the press to do the simple calculus:
A secure border saves lives. Targeted enforcement operations should happen across the nation. That's what we've done for decades. It just makes it safer for everybody.
More people on the jail means less people on the streets. Simple math.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.
Help us continue to report the truth about the president's border policies and mass deportations. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member