The White House has erupted in fury following claims that former President Donald Trump is retreating from his flagship election pledge of mass deportations, after he promised to 'de-escalate' operations in Minnesota. This development has triggered a ferocious revolt from his most loyal MAGA supporters, who fear the largest deportation effort in US history could unravel within the next 24 hours.
White House Defends Border Czar Amid Backlash
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson hit back strongly at suggestions that Border Czar Tom Homan was capitulating to hard-Left rioters after he held talks with Democratic leaders, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Jackson told the Daily Mail: 'Tom Homan is a patriot with decades of experience effectively protecting American communities and deporting criminal illegal aliens.'
She added emphatically: 'Any left-wing agitator or criminal illegal alien who thinks Tom's presence is a victory for their cause is sadly mistaken. The Trump Administration will never waver in standing up for law and order and protecting the American people.'
Leadership Shake-up Sparks Conservative Fears
Homan's arrival in Minnesota has provided relief to rank-and-file ICE agents who increasingly view former leader Kristi Noem as haphazard. However, there is now palpable fear among Trump's most fervent supporters that this leadership swap signals a softer strategy is underway.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Homan's top priority will be coordinating negotiations between Minnesota Democratic state leaders and the White House. This follows the controversial killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by an agent on Saturday, which has intensified tensions dramatically.
Immigration Hardliners Issue Stark Warning
Immigration hardliners are warning that any deal by Homan leading ICE agents to scale back their presence in Minnesota will be seen as a collapse of Trump's mass deportation agenda and a significant victory for liberal protesters. These concerns emerged after Trump stated in a Fox News interview that Homeland Security would 'de-escalate a little bit' in Minneapolis.
Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project and a longtime ally of Homan, expressed deep concern about potential negotiations. 'The mass deportation agenda could be completely wound back within the next 24 hours,' Howell told the Daily Mail on Tuesday. He added: 'This is a pivotal moment that will determine immigration enforcement operations for the years to come.'
Historical Parallels and Political Consequences
A source close to the White House issued a stark warning about the potential political fallout. They cautioned that if Trump blinks on mass deportations, it would represent the 'biggest betrayal' of Republican voters since George H.W. Bush broke his no-new-taxes promise in the early 1990s.
'If Trump backs down on deportations, he might as well pack it in. It will be the biggest betrayal to the base since George HW Bush raised taxes,' the White House insider revealed to the Daily Mail. This sentiment reflects the high stakes involved in the current negotiations.
Operational Changes and Conservative Criticism
The Department of Homeland Security has now sent controversial Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, a close Noem ally, back to California as Homan prepares to take control of operations. Conservative influencers supportive of mass deportation have criticized DHS leaders for abandoning Bovino following the deadly shootings that have occurred.
Nick Sortor, a conservative media personality known for filming viral moments of protesters confronting immigration agents, claimed in a Tuesday interview that border patrol agents have been ordered not to arrest 'non-criminal' undocumented immigrants. Sortor pointed to complaints from agents left in Minnesota after Bovino's departure, saying they were told to stand down even when evidence suggested immigration violations.
Negotiation Dynamics and Public Perception
Howell expressed particular concern about Bovino's withdrawal from Minneapolis, suggesting it would benefit Democratic leaders like Governor Walz and Mayor Frey. 'Any time you're removing resources from an area like that, it appears to be a negotiating tactic,' he observed, questioning why negotiations were occurring with leaders he associates with violent riots against federal authority.
Homan met with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey on Tuesday to discuss cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. Following these meetings, Homan wrote on social media platform X: 'While we don't agree on everything, these meetings were a productive starting point and I look forward to more conversations with key stakeholders in the days ahead.'
Political Context and Polling Reality
The administration has failed to meet Trump's promise of deporting one million illegal immigrants during his first year back in office. According to DHS end-of-year figures for 2025, ICE and Border Patrol deported approximately 675,000 noncitizens, falling significantly short of the stated target.
Trump rode back into the Oval Office a year ago after running his entire 2024 campaign on instituting mass deportations across the country, responding directly to outrage over mass migration at the southern border. However, new polling reveals challenging political realities for the administration.
A recent Daily Mail poll shows Trump's approval ratings have collapsed to record lows, with his signature immigration issue now proving problematic. Another survey found that 53 percent of registered voters believe the immigration raids should end, indicating shifting public sentiment.
Strategic Recommendations and Future Direction
Howell is now urging Homan and the White House to avoid letting public perception based on media reports dictate deportation objectives. 'They should focus on quantity and not what they think is the best political communications quality,' he concluded. 'So that means if you want to deport a high quantity, you go to places where there's concentrations of illegal aliens, like worksite enforcement.'
As negotiations continue and tensions remain high in Minnesota, the coming days will prove crucial for the future of Trump's immigration agenda and his relationship with his most loyal supporters. The administration faces the difficult challenge of balancing enforcement objectives with political realities and operational constraints in a highly charged environment.
