US President Donald Trump has deployed his 'border tsar' Tom Homan to lead on-the-ground immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, after two US citizens were shot dead by federal agents in the city in less than a month. The White House has said Homan, who arrived in Minneapolis on Tuesday, will now be the 'main point of contact on the ground' and will meet with city officials.
This transition follows the expected departure of Gregory Bovino, the US border patrol chief, amidst rising tensions regarding immigration enforcement tactics.
Homan, 64, is recognized as a key ally of Trump, with decades of experience in immigration policy spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations. He is a vocal defender of stringent immigration policies and has promised to target the 'worst of the worst' while maintaining that all undocumented migrants remain enforceable by law.
His law enforcement career began as a police officer before he joined border patrol in 1984. By 2013, Homan was leading the Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE. Despite his previous retirement plans, he returned to public service at the request of Trump’s administration, reflecting his integral role in the current administration’s approach to immigration.
Bovino's leadership faced controversies primarily due to aggressive enforcement tactics, drawing criticism from both lawmakers and immigration activists. His replacement by Homan may be interpreted as an adjustment by the White House in response to public sentiment.
However, many analysts believe that despite the change in leadership, the enforcement strategy in Minneapolis will largely remain unchanged. Homan's history and hiring align closely with the hardline policies of the Trump administration, particularly his defense of controversial actions like family separation.
As immigration remains a contentious issue in American politics, Homan's presence in Minneapolis and his commitment to strict immigration enforcement signal that the Biden administration's stance will continue under Trump's directives.
This transition follows the expected departure of Gregory Bovino, the US border patrol chief, amidst rising tensions regarding immigration enforcement tactics.
Homan, 64, is recognized as a key ally of Trump, with decades of experience in immigration policy spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations. He is a vocal defender of stringent immigration policies and has promised to target the 'worst of the worst' while maintaining that all undocumented migrants remain enforceable by law.
His law enforcement career began as a police officer before he joined border patrol in 1984. By 2013, Homan was leading the Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE. Despite his previous retirement plans, he returned to public service at the request of Trump’s administration, reflecting his integral role in the current administration’s approach to immigration.
Bovino's leadership faced controversies primarily due to aggressive enforcement tactics, drawing criticism from both lawmakers and immigration activists. His replacement by Homan may be interpreted as an adjustment by the White House in response to public sentiment.
However, many analysts believe that despite the change in leadership, the enforcement strategy in Minneapolis will largely remain unchanged. Homan's history and hiring align closely with the hardline policies of the Trump administration, particularly his defense of controversial actions like family separation.
As immigration remains a contentious issue in American politics, Homan's presence in Minneapolis and his commitment to strict immigration enforcement signal that the Biden administration's stance will continue under Trump's directives.
