The White House announced Monday that border czar Tom Homan will take direct oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota, following the fatal shooting of a second U.S. citizen during protests against immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
President Donald Trump confirmed the move in a social media post, stating that while Homan “has not been involved in that area,” he is familiar with and trusts many of the officials working there. Trump described Homan as “tough but fair” and said he will report directly to the president.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Homan will be on the ground in Minneapolis managing ICE operations and continuing arrests of what the administration calls “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” According to Leavitt, Homan will also coordinate with investigations into alleged graft involving charities in Minneapolis with ties to the city’s large Somali diaspora.
Shift in Immigration Enforcement Strategy
Homan’s deployment signals a potential shift in the administration’s immigration strategy. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has largely emphasized deportation numbers, placing Border Patrol in charge of operations traditionally handled by ICE.
By contrast, Homan — a career immigration agent who previously served as acting ICE director during Trump’s first term — has consistently advocated for a more targeted approach. His focus has been on identifying, detaining, and deporting unauthorized immigrants with criminal records rather than pursuing broad, numbers-driven enforcement.
The White House’s decision to send Homan suggests a renewed emphasis on operational control, messaging, and damage management amid rising public and political backlash.
Fatal Shooting Sparks National Scrutiny
The move comes after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, who was killed by immigration officers during protests in Minneapolis on Saturday. Pretti was a U.S. citizen.
The Department of Homeland Security and senior Trump administration officials initially defended the officers’ actions, claiming Pretti was carrying a weapon and that the use of deadly force was justified. However, videos circulating on social media do not appear to show Pretti brandishing a weapon.
It has also emerged that Pretti was legally licensed to carry a firearm under Minnesota law, further intensifying questions about whether the officers followed proper protocol.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, President Trump distanced himself from the incident, saying the administration is still reviewing the case.
“We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” Trump said, declining to immediately confirm whether the officers acted appropriately.
Political Fallout and Republican Pressure
The shooting has triggered unease even among conservatives. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee have formally requested that leaders from ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services testify before Congress to answer questions about enforcement practices and leadership decisions.
Some immigration hardliners, however, welcomed Homan’s involvement. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) praised the decision, saying, “There is no one who understands deportations better than Tom Homan. This is a great announcement from the White House.”
Despite earlier tensions, Secretary Noem also endorsed the move, calling Homan “a major asset” whose experience will support fraud investigations and help remove “public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens” from Minneapolis.
What Comes Next
With Homan now directly overseeing operations, the administration appears to be aiming for tighter control over enforcement tactics, public messaging, and ongoing investigations. Whether his involvement will calm tensions or intensify scrutiny remains to be seen, as federal authorities continue to investigate the shooting and lawmakers demand answers.
