Tom Homan says allowing ICE agents into jails could reduce street operations in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: White House border adviser Tom Homan spoke at a press conference in Minnesota about recent ICE actions that led to the deaths of two citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

He said that ICE will reduce its presence on the streets if federal agents are allowed access to local jail information. This way, arrests could happen inside jails instead of in public. In the same event, he said, the Minnesota county jail will notify ICE regarding illegal immigrants. 

Homan also said he plans to stay in Minnesota until the problem is solved. His visit comes after protests and concerns about public safety following the deaths. He wants to work with local authorities to make enforcement safer and more controlled.

Tom Homan says jails hold key to fewer street arrests

Border Czar said Thursday, January 29, that ICE could reduce its street operations in Minnesota if federal agents are allowed access to local jails. “The withdrawal of law enforcement resources here is dependent upon cooperation,” Homan said. “As we see that cooperation happen, then the redeployment will happen." 

He added, “More agents in the jail means less agents in the street. That’s common-sense cooperation.” “Yes, I said it,” he added. “Draw down the number of people here.” Homan clearly mentioned that the federal government will not 'back down' from its immigration enforcement mission.

“We are not surrendering our mission at all,” he said. “We are not surrendering the president’s mission of immigration enforcement: Let’s make that clear.” 

It is interesting to note that Homan and other Trump administration officials have long focused on using jails to enforce immigration laws. “Sanctuary cities lock us out of the jails,” Homan told ABC News last January, shortly after President Trump took office. 

According to CNN and VisaVerge, Republican-led states (red states)  generally cooperate more with ICE and often have higher arrest numbers relative to their population.

Democratic-led states (blue states) often limit cooperation on minor offenses, leading to different enforcement patterns. This affects where immigrants are arrested, what happens after arrest, and how local communities respond.

In red states, about 59 percent of ICE arrests happen in jails and prisons, showing strong cooperation with local authorities. In blue states, roughly 70 percent of arrests occur in the community, including workplaces and streets. Many people arrested in these operations do not have a criminal record.

Overall, red states report more ICE arrests than blue states. The difference in enforcement patterns has existed for years and has become more noticeable recently.

Tom Homan arrives in Minnesota to lead federal enforcement 

Tom Homan confirmed that he traveled to Minnesota at Trump’s request to manage federal immigration enforcement after criticism of Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino’s recent operations. Homan told reporters, “I didn’t come to Minnesota for photo ops or headlines. I came here to seek solutions.”

He emphasized that ensuring the safety of local communities was a shared goal among officials. “One thing we all agreed on is that community safety is paramount,” he said. Homan cautioned that people who are in the country unlawfully will be in problem. “If you’re in the country illegally, you’re never off the table,” he said.