Homan says CBP, ICE working on drawdown plan in Minnesota, but says "I'm staying 'til the problem is gone"
Border czar Tom Homan gave his first news conference Thursday morning since arriving in Minnesota at the request of President Trump, and said "a lot of progress" has been made since he arrived, and he's "staying 'til the problem's gone."
"I didn't come to Minnesota for photo ops or headlines. I came to seek solutions, and we've come a long way, and we've got some good wins for the people of Minnesota," he said.
Homan said the plan is to facilitate a "drawdown" in federal immigration enforcement forces in Minnesota, but added it's dependent on federal officials having access to state jails.
"I'm also pleased to announce I had a very good meeting with [Attorney General Keith Ellison], and he has clarified for me that county jails, many notify ICE by the release dates of criminal public safety risks, so I should take custody upon the release from the jail," Homan said. "I've said it for the last several years: give us access to the illegal alien public safety threat in the safety and security of a jail. It's common sense. It's safer for the community, it's safer for the agent and they're safer for the alien."
Homan confirmed the Minnesota Department of Corrections has been honoring federal immigration detainers, and that will expand.
"That decision has made Minnesota safer not only for residents of Minnesota, but the men and women of law enforcement. Not just ICE — all law enforcement," he said.
Homan made it clear he's "not surrendering the president's mission in immigration enforcement," and said while he has had some disagreements with state and Minneapolis leaders since he's arrived, he said everyone agrees that "community safety is paramount."
"You can't fix problems if you don't have discussions," he said.
Homan declined to comment on the deadly shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, but called for the investigations to play out.
"I'm not gonna come out and make any comments that I think is right, wrong. Do I have an opinion? Yeah, my personal opinion, but I'm not going to share that with you," he said. "The president, one of the words he said to me when I came up here, is that he, he didn't wanna see anybody die."
He also stressed the toll Operation Metro Surge has taken on members of federal law enforcement.
"The hostile rhetoric and dangerous threats and hate must stop, and we all agreed to that," Homan said. "I was an ICE agent. I was the first ICE director that came up through the ranks. I spent over 40 years doing this. These men and women that carry that badge and gun are American patriots. They put themselves on the line for this nation every day. But I want you to remember they don't hang their badge, they don't hang their heart on a hook every day they come to work. They're mothers and fathers, too. They're sons and daughters, too."
In Maine, where federal forces have also focused efforts recently, officials said they are bringing an end to enhanced immigration enforcement operations there, Sen. Susan Collins said Thursday
U.S. House Democrats held a caucus call Wednesday evening, two sources confirmed to CBS News. During the call, Leader Jeffries urged Democrats to hold firm and continue to hold ICE accountable. Separately, a source confirms that a letter was sent earlier this week to Democratic offices from House Democratic leadership staff advising that members should avoid visiting Minnesota and stay in their districts for security reasons.
Another email sent to House Democrats said, "Leadership is working with the MN Delegation offices and Governor Walz's team to develop a plan for strategic engagement that will not unduly burden law enforcement and our colleagues on the ground in MN right now."
This is a developing story and will be updated.
