During a press conference, Homan, who oversees border issues in the Trump administration, announced that the withdrawal of agents will happen immediately. However, about 2,000 federal employees will remain in Minnesota, who were sent to the state to combat illegal immigration.
In January, during mass protests against the operation, federal agents shot two Americans in Minneapolis. Following this, the Trump administration decided to remove the operation commander, Greg Bovino, replacing him with Tom Homan.
The operation involves employees of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Homan clarified that agents from both agencies are being withdrawn.
Homan also stated that ultimately, federal authorities plan to return all employees dispatched to Minnesota back home, but in the near future, the operation against illegal immigrants will continue.
The head of the border service indirectly blamed the incidents in Minneapolis on opponents of the Trump administration, who organized protests against the campaign to deport illegal immigrants.
He reminded that a year ago he warned that such actions could lead to tragic consequences, and unfortunately, this has happened.
Homan added that neither he, nor President Trump, nor Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen wished for violence.
He urged Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, to ask the residents of the state not to interfere with the work of federal agents.
After the shooting incident, Governor Walz demanded the complete withdrawal of all federal forces from Minnesota.
Recently, Secretary Nielsen announced that all federal agents working in Minnesota will be provided with body cameras to increase the transparency of their actions.
