President Donald Trump has dispatched Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to take control of immigration operations following the fatal shooting of an American citizen by federal agents and subsequent unrest in the city.
The move comes amid reports that Mr Trump has privately expressed frustration with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handling of the situation, particularly around public perception of the shooting.
Writing on Truth Social, Mr Trump announced: “I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”
The decision follows the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old local nurse, who was shot dead by border patrol officers in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident has drawn condemnation from Democratic leaders at national, state and local level, while Republican lawmakers in Washington have raised concerns that the operation has spiralled out of control.
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Chaos erupted outside the Home Suites by Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis on Sunday night, a day after Mr Pretti’s death. Videos showed protesters smashing windows and spray-painting the building’s facade. Rioters attempted to break through the front door but were unsuccessful. The disturbance continued for more than an hour without police intervention.
The President’s intervention highlights an ongoing power struggle between Ms Noem and Mr Homan, who have clashed over control of the administration’s mass deportation agenda since taking office. Reports suggest non-law enforcement DHS officials under Ms Noem have feuded with career ICE officers loyal to Mr Homan over detention and deportation procedures.
Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump insider, has publicly accused Mr Homan of leaking to the press and has sought to remove immigration officers close to the Border Czar.
Despite the apparent rebuke, Ms Noem issued a statement praising Mr Homan as “a major asset to our team”, adding that his experience would assist fraud investigations and efforts to remove “violent criminal illegal aliens” from Minneapolis.
Mr Trump also announced a separate investigation into what he described as “massive” welfare fraud in Minnesota worth more than $20 billion, which he claimed was “at least partially responsible” for the protests. He added that the Department of Justice and Congress were examining the finances of Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.
