White House border czar says 700 federal agents will leave Minnesota

Tom Homan, the White House border czar, said about 700 federal agents would leave Minnesota, a large drop in agents on the ground but still leaving about 2,000 agents there, far above typical levels for the state.

Homan said the reduction came as county jails were negotiating over increased coordination with federal officials, though it’s not clear which counties have agreed to coordinate with immigration enforcement officials.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Minnesota sheriffs are negotiating with Homan for a plan that would see county jails holding immigrants for up to 48 hours after their release date from state custody. Homan said Wednesday that agreements wouldn’t keep people in custody for any longer than their set sentences.

Sheriffs who agree to participate would notify immigration enforcement agents before they’re released, and agents would be able to pick the person up from a jail, reducing the need for street operations that require more agents, Homan said.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Tim Walz said he had met with Homan that morning. The Minnesota governor said his expectation was that Homan would draw down the number of agents in the state and give the state the ability to investigate the killings of two US citizens by federal agents. Walz said he wanted a return to lower numbers of agents, the about 100-150 who regularly work in the state, working solely on those with violent convictions.

Walz said it’s not that the federal government has had a change of heart; it’s that they know they’re losing politically.

“I don’t see how they continue on with this in any way that makes any sense, both politically and operationally for them,” he said. Still, he’s looking for more than rhetoric from the administration. “None of this matters unless there’s proof on the ground.”