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White House Border Czar Orders Dismantling of Minneapolis Anti-ICE Checkpoints
White House border czar Tom Homan dismissed anti-ICE protesters’ roadblocks in Minneapolis as a “joke” on Wednesday, saying they are only harming local communities while failing to impede federal immigration enforcement operations.
During a press conference in Minnesota, Homan revealed he had personally intervened to end the unauthorized checkpoints. “When I was made aware that the roadblocks exist, I called the chief of police, and he went and disbanded them after I got off the phone with him. He has promised to take enforcement action,” Homan told reporters.
“This is illegal. You can’t do that,” he continued, addressing the protesters directly. “My message to those folks is, what are you doing? You really think you’re stopping ICE and CBP from doing their job? It’s a joke. The only people you’re hurting is your own community who wants to go and get groceries and pick up their dry cleaning or go to work, whatever. You’re just hindering them. Stop. Stop.”
The roadblocks appeared to be part of broader community resistance to increased federal immigration enforcement activities in Minneapolis. Local residents had barricaded portions of city streets, including the 3300 block of Portland Avenue, following controversial immigration enforcement operations in the area.
In a significant development, Homan announced a major reduction in federal presence in the Twin Cities region, with 700 federal agents withdrawing from the area effective immediately. The drawdown comes after what Homan described as “unprecedented cooperation” from local authorities regarding communication about detained immigrants.
“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets,” Homan said. He emphasized the efficiency of this approach, noting it “requires only one or two officers to assume custody of a criminal alien target, rather than eight or 10 officers going into the community and arresting that public safety threat.”
The increased cooperation follows meetings Homan held with key Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. During these meetings, Homan urged local officials to allow jails to communicate with federal law enforcement about the planned release of detained immigrants.
Homan clarified that federal authorities were not asking local jails to extend detention periods. “We’re not asking anyone to be an immigration officer,” he said. “We’re not asking anyone to hold anyone beyond their normal release time.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded to the announcement with qualified support, suggesting more action was needed. “Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, but we need a faster and larger drawdown of forces, state-led investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and an end to this campaign of retribution,” Walz wrote on social media platform X.
The situation in Minneapolis highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement policies and local communities. The city has been a focal point in the national immigration debate, with some residents and officials expressing concern about aggressive enforcement tactics, while federal authorities maintain such operations are necessary for public safety.
The withdrawal of federal agents represents a significant de-escalation in what had become an increasingly contentious situation. However, the underlying issues of immigration enforcement, community safety, and local sovereignty remain unresolved as both federal and local authorities navigate these complex challenges.
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14 Comments
This is a difficult issue without easy answers. I can see merits to both Homan’s and the protesters’ positions. Hopefully all sides can come together to find a resolution that balances security concerns with the community’s needs and legitimate grievances.
Homan makes a fair point that the roadblocks are harming local residents more than impeding federal agents. Peaceful protest is important, but it needs to be balanced with respecting the community. I hope all sides can find a reasonable compromise here.
This seems like a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. While I understand the desire to protest ICE operations, disrupting local communities is counterproductive. There may be more constructive ways to voice opposition and advocate for policy changes.
I appreciate Homan’s perspective on the ineffectiveness of the roadblocks, but the protesters’ views also merit examination. This seems like a situation that would benefit from nuanced discussions and a search for common ground, rather than confrontation. Maintaining public safety while respecting community needs is key.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific factors that led to the roadblocks being set up. While Homan’s criticism seems reasonable, the protesters may have valid grievances that should be heard. Hopefully all parties can come together to find a constructive way forward.
While I generally support strong border control, the roadblocks do seem like an ineffective and disruptive tactic. I’m curious to hear more about the protesters’ perspectives and whether there are more constructive ways they could voice their opposition to ICE operations.
As a supporter of secure borders, I can appreciate Homan’s stance. However, the local community’s concerns also deserve consideration. This seems like a complex situation that would benefit from open dialogue and a search for common ground solutions.
As someone who supports secure borders, I can see the logic in Homan’s arguments. However, the protesters’ motivations also warrant examination. This seems like a situation that would benefit from open communication and a search for mutually agreeable solutions, rather than confrontation.
This situation highlights the complexity of immigration enforcement and the need for nuanced, good-faith discussions. While Homan’s criticism of the roadblocks seems valid, the protesters likely have valid concerns that deserve consideration. Compromise and dialogue will be key to finding a solution.
This is a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. While the roadblocks may not be an effective tactic, the protesters’ motivations deserve consideration. Hopefully Homan and local officials can engage in open dialogue to find a balanced solution that addresses security needs and community concerns.
I’m curious to learn more about the broader context and motivations behind these roadblocks. Resisting increased immigration enforcement is understandable, but the approach seems problematic. It would be helpful to understand the protesters’ goals and whether there are alternative strategies they could pursue.
The roadblocks appear to be more of a symbolic gesture than an effective tactic. While I understand the desire to resist ICE, the local community shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of the disruption. Perhaps the protesters could explore other avenues to make their voices heard.
This is a multifaceted issue without easy answers. While Homan’s criticism of the roadblocks seems reasonable, the protesters’ perspectives also warrant consideration. Maintaining public safety and respecting community needs will be crucial in finding an effective and equitable solution.
The roadblocks do seem like a problematic approach that could backfire and harm local residents more than impede federal agents. However, the protesters’ motivations likely stem from valid concerns about increased immigration enforcement. Hopefully all sides can find a way to address those concerns through constructive dialogue and compromise.