Tom Homan pushes back on Minnesota reimbursement demands after ICE surge

WASHINGTON, DC: Tom Homan, the White House border official, pushed back against Minnesota leaders seeking federal reimbursement for recent immigration enforcement, saying the operations made the state safer and deserve appreciation instead. His remarks followed calls from from Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who argued that ICE actions had caused economic strain in their communities.

Homan spoke Sunday, February 15, on 'Fox & Friends Weekend,' defending the Trump administration’s surge as a necessary intervention to restore order and protect public safety.

Tom Homan defends ICE operations as a public safety measure

Tom Homan called the operation a “great success,” highlighting that federal intervention broke down sanctuary-style obstacles that had previously hindered law enforcement cooperation. “A lot of things were broken, but it wasn't because of the Trump administration,” he said, pointing to prior border policies as the source of ongoing problems. He stressed that ICE agents now face fewer risks making arrests inside county jails than on the streets.

He cited more than 4,000 arrests, including 14 individuals with homicide convictions and other serious offenses affecting children. Homan also questioned why Minnesota leaders had not previously addressed overdose deaths and violent crimes, asserting that Democrats “broke the border” and Trump restored order.

Minnesota leaders demand federal compensation

Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have called for federal assistance, citing significant economic impacts from immigration enforcement. Frey reported that Minneapolis faced $203 million in losses in January alone and requested direct federal aid to support small businesses and residents. Proposed funding would cover emergency response, humanitarian assistance, public safety support, and infrastructure recovery.

Walz said, “The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here. The incredible costs were borne by the people of this state. You don't get to break things and then just leave without doing something about it.” He also introduced a $10 million emergency relief plan offering forgivable loans from $2,500 to $25,000 to qualifying businesses affected by Operation Metro Surge.

Homan’s comments underscore the tension between federal enforcement priorities and state concerns, framing the surge as a protective measure that strengthened public safety while rejecting Minnesota officials’ reimbursement demands.