On Tuesday, President Donald Trump directed the removal of Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, along with senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino. This action comes in response to mounting political pressure over the federal operation in Minneapolis and the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal agents.
The White House announced that Tom Homan, the seasoned former chief of ICE and current "border czar," will temporarily oversee immigration operations in the state. His mission is to "recalibrate tactics and ease tensions" following incidents under the so-called Operation Metro Surge.
According to Reuters, this move is part of a "strategic repositioning" by the Trump administration, aiming to soften its immigration policy tone in Democrat-led cities. This follows two fatalities—the deaths of nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother—which sparked significant protests and national scrutiny.
The decision was made after a federal judge in Minnesota ordered Lyons to appear in court on Friday for potential contempt, as he allegedly ignored a judicial order regarding a detained immigrant.
Judicial and media pressure intensified after a video surfaced contradicting the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) claims that Pretti posed "an imminent threat." The video, confirmed by Reuters, shows the 37-year-old nurse was unarmed and did not resist when he was shot, igniting protests outside the ICE headquarters in Minneapolis and prompting local leaders to accuse the government of "excessive force."
Sources close to the White House revealed that Trump spent the weekend in meetings with advisors, reviewing the federal response. Following these discussions, he decided to replace Bovino and instructed Homan to "de-escalate" operations and "restore cooperation with local authorities."
Homan met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Tuesday to discuss the reduction of the more than 3,000 federal agents deployed in the city. Both officials demanded an independent investigation into the two shootings and called for the end of Metro Surge.
"We request these operations to cease as soon as possible," Frey stated, while Walz emphasized the state's goal to "restore public trust and ensure accountability."
Meanwhile, Trump reiterated that his administration "will not tolerate abuse, but also will not show weakness," reaffirming his support for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who some media outlets speculated might resign.
"Kristi is not resigning. We have a great relationship, and she is doing a tremendous job," the president told reporters.
Sources from the Department of Homeland Security indicated that Homan plans to replace mass raids with targeted and discreet operations focused on individuals with criminal records, rather than the broad urban deployments previously employed by Bovino in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
The situation in Minneapolis poses one of the most sensitive challenges for Trump since his return to the presidency, blending racial tensions, social unrest, and judicial pressure on his immigration policy. The White House hopes that changes in ICE leadership and a review of tactics will "restore stability" without compromising border control.
FAQs on Trump's Immigration Strategy Shift
Why did Trump replace the ICE director in Minnesota?
Trump replaced the ICE director in Minnesota in response to political pressure and protests following the deaths of two American citizens during federal operations in Minneapolis.
What is Operation Metro Surge?
Operation Metro Surge is a federal initiative involving the deployment of a large number of agents in urban areas, criticized for its aggressive tactics and associated with recent protests in Minneapolis.
Who is Tom Homan?
Tom Homan is the former chief of ICE and currently serves as the "border czar," temporarily overseeing immigration operations in Minnesota to reduce tensions and adjust federal tactics.