Border czar Tom Homan said federal authorities will “draw down” roughly 700 law‑enforcement personnel in Minnesota immediately, a move that leaves more than 2,000 federal officers still deployed in the state.
Homan said, with the backing of President Trump, his goal is “to achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge as soon as we can.” The announcement follows weeks of protests over heightened immigration enforcement and clashes between demonstrators and federal agents; those incidents included the shooting deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis last month.
The operation and ICE tactics have drawn growing community frustration. Officials cited highly publicized cases — including the apprehension of five‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos and fourth‑grader Elizabeth Zuna — that prompted fear in immigrant families and spurred local responses. Schools reported increased student absenteeism, with some families relocating to avoid enforcement actions. Jason Kuhlman, principal at Valley View Elementary School, said teachers have been doing welfare checks on missing students and helping families through school pantries and raised funds because many parents are too afraid to leave home.
Two Minnesota school districts and a teachers union have sued the Trump administration seeking to stop ICE raids near schools, saying enforcement activities disrupt learning and imperil students and staff. The Department of Homeland Security responded that ICE is not going to schools to arrest children.
The drawdown announcement came as President Trump, in an interview, described a somewhat softer approach to enforcement while still asserting a tough overall stance. Officials did not immediately provide a timetable for a full withdrawal.