Homan sees cooperation as path to Minnesota "drawdown"
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Border czar Tom Homan speaks during a news conference on Jan. 29 in Minneapolis. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Border czar Tom Homan, President Trump's new man on the ground in Minnesota, struck a cooperative tone Thursday and said he sees a path to de-escalation in the Twin Cities.
Why it matters: After weeks of unrest in Minnesota, Homan is taking on the mantle of mediator as other Trump administration officials face scrutiny for their roles in the crisis and the president continues to spar with local and state officials.
- "I'm not here because the federal government has carried this mission out perfectly," he said at a press conference Thursday morning.
Driving the news: Homan said "commonsense cooperation" would facilitate a drawdown of the thousands of immigration officers in the state.
- He acknowledged that the Minnesota Department of Corrections had been honoring ICE detainers, despite prior administration claims.
- Homan also cited a "very good meeting" with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who he said clarified that county jails "may notify ICE" of release dates for "criminal public safety risks" so that immigration enforcement can take them into custody.
Catch up quick: Ahead of the White House's attempt to cool tensions, Attorney General Pam Bondi outlined a list of demands for the state in a letter, some of which appeared to align with Homan's vision of cooperation.
- She demanded all detention facilities in the state "cooperate fully" with ICE and honor detainers, per a copy obtained by the New York Times.
- Bondi also told the state to allow the DOJ to access voter rolls, Medicaid records, and food and nutrition program data.
Zoom out: Homan also emphasized he agreed with state and local officials over prioritizing community safety and that public safety arrests "could be" transferred to ICE, among other things.
- Homan repeatedly said that ICE will conduct "targeted" enforcement, which he said is "what we've done for decades."
Yes, but: He also acknowledged there remains disagreement on local police's involvement in immigration enforcement.
- Minneapolis has a separation ordinance that bars police from undertaking "any law enforcement action for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws," per Axios Twin Cities.
- Trump clashed with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Wednesday after the mayor said that his city does not enforce federal immigration law. The president warned that Frey was "PLAYING WITH FIRE."
What we're watching: Homan says he's staying until "the problem's gone."
Go deeper: Minneapolis killings cut short America's post-election apathy
