U.S. President Donald Trump has deployed his border tsar Tom Homan to lead on-the-ground immigration enforcement in Minneapolis after two U.S. citizens were shot dead by federal agents in the city in less than a month.
The White House has announced that Homan, who arrived in Minneapolis on Tuesday, will be the main point of contact on the ground and will engage with city officials.
This deployment comes as U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, who was a prominent figure in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies, is expected to leave the city along with some of his agents.
At 64, Homan is recognized as a crucial ally of Trump and brings decades of experience in immigration policy, having worked across both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Homan is one of the most outspoken defenders of Trump's immigration policy and mass deportation push. A native of upstate New York, Homan began his career as a police officer before joining the border patrol in 1984. He has swiftly climbed the ranks within immigration enforcement, holding notable positions during both Obama's and Trump's administrations.
Having originally planned to retire in 2017, Homan was called back by incoming Chief of Staff John Kelly at Trump's request, illustrating his close relationship with the administration. His recent return to a leadership role underlines the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement amidst growing public scrutiny.
While the informal title of border tsar involves overseeing immigration policy across multiple agencies without Senate confirmation, it underscores the significant responsibilities Homan will face as he assesses the situation in Minneapolis. Homan has expressed commitment to enforcing immigration laws robustly, claiming that everyone in the country illegally remains a target for deportation.
In the wake of Homan's appointment, observers are speculating whether this leadership change signifies a shift in strategy in Minneapolis or merely a continuation of the administration's current immigration stance. Homan's previous support for contentious policies, including those leading to family separations at the border, has led critics to suggest that little will change under his leadership.
While immigration tactics have stirred controversy in the past, Homan's polished communication style contrasts with Bovino's more aggressive approach, potentially aimed at softening public perception of immigration enforcement operations.
