Tom Homan, the so-called "border czar" of the US, announced that the operation to reinforce federal anti-immigration units in the state of Minnesota will be ended, after according to him, President Donald Trump has approved the request to close the operation.
"I will stay in Minnesota for a while to oversee the withdrawal and ensure that it is carried out successfully," Homan said during a press conference on Thursday morning.
This year, Trump deployed thousands of armed agents in and around the city of Minneapolis, a move that sparked strong protests. Homan said Minnesota has become “less of a sanctuary state” for illegal immigrants, noting that local authorities’ cooperation with federal immigration officials has increased significantly.
The announcement comes after the shooting deaths of two American citizens by federal immigration agents, at a time when the number of personnel in the state had exceeded 2,000. A week earlier, the Trump administration had announced that it would reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota by 700.
Homan stressed that the partial withdrawal is being made due to "unprecedented" cooperation from elected county sheriffs, who administer local jails.
However, he stressed that the policy of mass deportations will continue. "President Trump is fully committed to carrying out mass deportations during this term, and immigration enforcement will continue every day across the country. President Trump has made a promise and we have received no guidance to the contrary," Homan said.
