Washington/Minneapolis – US President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that a “softer touch” may be needed in immigration enforcement, even as his administration confirmed that 700 federal officers would be withdrawn from Minnesota. Despite the reduction, officials emphasized that mass deportations will continue nationwide.
The announcement follows weeks of public outrage after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal officers in Minneapolis last month, incidents that sparked widespread condemnation and calls to end immigration raids in the Midwestern city.
Trump’s Remarks
In an interview with NBC’s Nightly News, Trump reflected on the Minneapolis crackdown:
“I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough,” he said.
Later, in a Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham, Trump’s border chief Tom Homan reinforced the administration’s stance:
“Mass deportations are here, they’re coming, we’re already breaking records, and we’re not going to stop,” Homan declared.
Federal Drawdown
Homan announced that 700 officers would be pulled from Minnesota, leaving about 2,000 agents in place. He said the reduction would take effect immediately, citing increased cooperation with local authorities and a shift toward detaining suspects directly from jails rather than on the streets.
Before the launch of the high-profile crackdown, Minnesota had only 150 federal immigration officers.
Local Leaders Respond
The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, both Democrats, described the drawdown as “a step in the right direction.” However, they urged the federal government to move faster in winding down immigration operations in the state.
Frey posted on X that the immigration operation, dubbed Metro Surge, must end “immediately.” Walz echoed the sentiment, calling for a “faster and larger drawdown of forces” and state-led investigations into the killings.
Fatal Shootings Spark Outcry
The controversy stems from two deadly encounters:
- Renee Good, a 37-year-old unarmed woman, was shot as she attempted to drive away from ICE agents.
- Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was beaten and shot while pinned to the ground.
Both victims were US citizens.
Trump acknowledged the tragedies in his NBC interview:
“I’m not happy with what happened there. It should have not happened… To me it was a very sad incident, two incidents.”
Still, he reaffirmed his support for immigration enforcement officers:
“I’m going to always be with our great people of law enforcement, ICE, police. We have to back them. If we don’t back them, we don’t have a country.”
International Attention
The killings and the government’s initial false accounts of the incidents drew international condemnation, intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration operations. Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Minneapolis, demanding accountability.
In response to the backlash, Trump replaced combative Customs and Border Protection commander Gregory Bovino with Homan, who pledged to oversee a conditional drawdown while maintaining enforcement.
Conclusion
The administration’s decision to reduce federal personnel in Minnesota marks a partial concession to public pressure, but Trump’s insistence on continuing mass deportations underscores the enduring tension between federal immigration policy and local demands for accountability. As protests continue, Minneapolis remains a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement.
