What to know about Trump's "border czar" sent to Minnesota
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan on March 17 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump said Monday he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take over immigration operations after federal agents killed a second U.S. citizen this month.
Why it matters: Homan has reportedly clashed with other Trump officials over tactics. He has favored deportations for people he considers criminals and national security threats, instead of the broader approach currently sweeping Minnesota.
State of play: Federal immigration officials killed Veterans Affairs ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday and Renee Good, a mother of three, on Jan. 7.
- State and local leaders called on the Trump administration to pull the thousands of federal agents sent to the state in recent weeks.
Driving the news: "[Homan] has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me."
- Homan will manage ICE operations on the ground, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.
Yes, but: Both of the fatal shootings this month came at the hands of Border Patrol agents, not ICE.
Friction point: As of late last year, Homan and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem barely spoke or met with each other, Axios' Brittany Gibson and Marc Caputo previously reported. The exact cause of their tension was unclear.
- Because his role reports to the White House, Homan did not need congressional confirmation. Czars are often designated officials tasked with coordinating efforts across agencies on a given topic.
- While Trump's move appears to sideline Noem in Minnesota after days of criticism over her comments on the most recent shooting, a White House spokesperson said in a statement that "Secretary Noem will continue to lead the Department of Homeland Security with the full trust and confidence of the President."
- Noem welcomed the announcement on X, calling it "good news for peace, safety, and accountability."
Flashback: Homan served as acting head of ICE from January 2017 to June 2018. He had a role in the first Trump administration's controversial family separation policy.
- Previously, he was the director of ICE enforcement and removal operations.
Behind the scenes: Homan is listed as a contributor to the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. He became a visiting fellow within the foundation's border security and immigration center in 2022.
- He started a nonprofit called Border911, intended to educate Americans on "what it means to have a secure, well-managed border."
- Homan also served as a Fox News contributor.
Context: Homan began his career in local law enforcement in New York before becoming a U.S. Border Patrol agent and special agent with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
- He became head of ICE's deportation branch in 2013 during former President Obama's second term. In 2015, Homan received a Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service from Obama.
