Trump Administration Withdraws Hundreds of ICE Agents from Minnesota Amid Growing Backlash
In a significant policy shift, the administration of President Donald Trump is pulling hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents out of Minnesota following substantial public and political backlash. The move comes as the President faces a series of negative opinion polls concerning his immigration enforcement strategies.
Agreement Leads to Major Drawdown of Federal Agents
Border Czar Tom Homan announced this morning that approximately 700 agents from the reported 3,000 armed personnel deployed in what local leaders had termed an "invasion" of the state will be withdrawn. Homan stated that this "drawdown" resulted from an agreement reached with local county jails. The new arrangement involves jails handing over individuals identified as "threats to the community" directly to ICE, rather than releasing them back into the public.
Homan suggested this cooperative approach would require less manpower than the previous strategy of seeking to detain undocumented individuals accused of committing crimes on the streets. He made these remarks during a press conference held in Minneapolis, emphasising the administration's ongoing commitment to immigration enforcement.
Local Leaders Had Warned of Intimidation Tactics
Prior to this withdrawal, Minnesota's local leaders had expressed severe concerns about the surge of thousands of armed federal agents into their communities. They described the operation as an "invasion" and warned that its real intention was not solely law enforcement or immigration control. Instead, they alleged it was a form of intimidation, potentially preparing the way for ICE to be used to pressure voters during the upcoming midterm elections in November.
Homan addressed the change in tactics, stating that "moving forward," ICE would focus on targeted operations based on reasonable suspicion. When questioned about whether the initial large-scale operation had been successful, he affirmed that it had, particularly from a public safety perspective, while acknowledging it was not a "perfect operation."
Shift to Targeted Enforcement Amid Polling Pressure
The policy adjustment occurs as President Trump confronts a series of unfavourable public opinion polls. American voters appear to be pushing back against his administration's mass deportation programme. A recent IPSOS poll released on Monday revealed that 62% of Americans believe ICE officers have "gone too far" in their enforcement actions. This figure represents an increase from the 58% recorded in a poll taken before the controversial shooting of Alex Pretti.
Regarding that specific incident, only 33% of respondents considered it a necessary use of force, with a significant 43% stating they were unsure. Furthermore, Trump's overall approval rating has slumped to 37% in a Pew Research Center poll this week, with half of those surveyed saying his administration's actions have been worse than they expected.
Support for the President's policies has also declined. Just over a quarter of Americans (27%) now say they support all or most of his policies and plans, down from 35% a year ago. According to Pew's analysis, this decline in support has occurred entirely among Republican voters.
Future of Immigration Enforcement Strategy
Despite the scaled-back presence in Minnesota, Homan reiterated the administration's broader objectives. "Let me be clear, President Trump fully intends to achieve mass deportations during his administration, and immigration enforcement will continue every day throughout this country," he declared at the Minneapolis press conference.
When asked if ICE would cease broader patrols and random citizenship checks, Homan clarified the new approach: "We're doing targeted enforcement operations. But when we go to arrest targets, if we find an illegal alien there, they're coming." This statement underscores a continued, albeit more focused, commitment to immigration enforcement across the United States, even as tactical deployments are recalibrated in response to political and public pressure.
