Trump sends border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota after Pretti shooting

President Trump announced on Jan. 26, 2026, that border czar Tom Homan will go to Minneapolis to become the 'main point of contact on the ground' for federal immigration operations. Trump said Homan 'has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there' and will 'report directly to me.' This bypasses the normal chain of command through DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a Jan. 26 briefing that Homan is 'the point person for cooperating with state and local authorities' to 'subdue the chaos on the streets of Minneapolis.' She emphasized that Noem 'still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president' and is overseeing DHS operations nationwide, including FEMA's response to the winter storm.

The White House softened its tone on Jan. 26 after initially defending the shooting. Leavitt said 'Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in America's streets.' She added this includes 'Renee Good, Alex Pretti, the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and the many Americans who have been victimized at the hands of illegal alien criminals.'

Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 26 that his administration is 'reviewing everything and will come out with a determination' about whether the agents acted appropriately. This contrasts with earlier administration claims that defended the shooting as justified. DHS Secretary Noem initially claimed Pretti was 'brandishing' a weapon and 'reacted violently,' but videos contradict these claims.

Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and some agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Jan. 27, according to Associated Press sources. Bovino had been overseeing ICE operations in Minneapolis alongside Noem. Multiple media outlets reported his departure following Homan's appointment.

Trump spoke with 🦆Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Jan. 26 and said it 'was a very good call' where they 'seemed to be on a similar wavelength.' Walz confirmed the call was 'productive' but said areas of disagreement remained. Walz told Trump that 'his staff doesn't have their facts straight about Minnesota' and wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that 'federal officials are lying' about the immigration situation.

Trump also spoke with Minneapolis Mayor JFJacob Frey (D) on Jan. 26 and announced that Homan will meet with Frey on Jan. 27 to 'continue the discussion.' Frey said he 'appreciated the conversation' and expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from immigrant communities. He said his 'main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to' (statement appears cut off in sources).

Tom Homan served as acting ICE director from Jan. 2017 through Jun. 2018 under Trump's first term. The Obama administration gave him a Presidential Rank Award for his work leading ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Deportations under Obama reached 432,000 in 2013, the highest annual total on record. Deportations under Trump's first term never topped 350,000. Homan portrays illegal immigration as 'black-and-white' and has made no apologies for targeting everyone without legal status.