Minneapolis is bracing for a potentially prolonged standoff between federal immigration authorities and local leaders, despite assurances of a more collaborative approach. Federal officials are seeking “commonsense cooperation” on immigration enforcement, with the hope of drawing down thousands of agents deployed to the city over the past two months, according to statements made Thursday.
But beneath the surface of cordial meetings between state and local officials and Tom Homan, recently placed in charge of the federal immigration operation in Minnesota, lies deep-seated distrust. This skepticism stems from the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents, and a perceived lack of accountability from the Trump administration.
Homan’s optimistic predictions of a swift détente appear to underestimate the extent of the damage done by the administration’s actions, which have fueled mistrust among politicians, activists, and residents. The deaths of Good and Pretti were followed by attempts to discredit the victims and limit local investigations, exacerbating existing frustrations.
“One of the things that was exceedingly frustrating was the fact that they were putting out information that was just utterly and completely untrue,” Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell told me.
Schnell, who met with Homan this week, explained that his agency felt compelled to create a webpage to fact-check statements made by the Department of Homeland Security, which alleged the state was routinely releasing violent criminals. The webpage serves as a direct response to what the department characterized as misinformation.
Several individuals DHS claimed to have “arrested” in Minnesota were, in fact, already in the custody of the state’s Department of Corrections when transferred to federal officials. This contradicts the administration’s justification for deploying 3,000 agents to Minnesota—a claim that local officials were not cooperating with federal efforts. Homan acknowledged Thursday that the Department of Corrections had been honoring ICE detainers—requests for information about inmates potentially subject to removal proceedings.
The administration faces a broader challenge: focusing solely on “the worst of the worst” will likely fall short of the mass-deportation numbers demanded by President Trump. Schnell stated he found no basis for the administration’s claim of over 1,360 inmates with ICE detainers in Minnesota. Despite repeated requests for clarification, DHS provided no response, leading to the launch of the “Combatting DHS Misinformation” webpage. The state prison system holds approximately 270 noncitizen inmates, representing less than 3 percent of its total population of around 8,000.
“You’re talking about the worst of the worst; and then you send your 3,000 agents into schools and hospitals and churches and small businesses?” Schnell asked. “Is that really where the worst of the worst are at?”
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that conversations with local officials were ongoing. “The Trump Administration remains committed to enforcing federal laws and ensuring all Americans feel safe in their communities,” she said in an email. “Local leaders should work with us, not against us, to achieve this goal.”
Homan arrived in Minnesota this week and replaced Greg Bovino as Border Patrol commander. He said Thursday that federal agents would prioritize arresting violent criminals, while acknowledging the operation—which has included refugees, children, and U.S. citizens with no criminal records—had “got away from” its original focus.
Minnesota police have expressed support for removing violent criminals from the community. However, the federal government’s actions have damaged relationships, making future cooperation on immigration enforcement unlikely, according to current and former officials. In addition to the deaths of Good and Pretti, masked federal agents have been accused of roughing up protesters and creating a climate of fear.
“Trust has been breached, and I don’t think you can get that back,” said Lucy Gerold, a former Minneapolis police officer of over 30 years. “I think they’ve lost the trust and breached the ability to compromise or coordinate or cooperate.”
Gerold recounted inadvertently encountering a federal immigration operation and being struck by the lack of professionalism. Agents arrived in six unmarked cars but failed to secure the scene or manage traffic flow, creating chaos with protesters and moving vehicles. Despite federal officials seeking local police assistance, the Minneapolis Police Department is hesitant to associate with an operation perceived as disjointed and hostile.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told me days before Pretti’s death that cooperating with a federal operation viewed by many residents as an “invasion” could damage the legitimacy of law enforcement. Homan’s call for increased local support is further complicated by a recent update to Minneapolis city rules governing interactions between police and federal immigration officers. Known as a “separation ordinance,” it mandates that Minneapolis “vigorously oppose” any use of local resources to support federal immigration enforcement, arguing that community trust would be “destroyed” by collaboration with the administration’s deportation efforts.
“Enforcing federal civil immigration laws alongside federal agents who lack clear agency identification and/or who are masked or otherwise concealing their identities or badges would be contrary to the values of the city and harmful to the trust and public safety of city residents,” the ordinance states.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz both reported productive meetings with Homan, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the situation. However, they appeared less inclined to cooperate with ICE or alter their policies than Homan suggested.
“I’m not sure I can do much more,” the governor told Isaac Stanley-Becker this week, accusing federal agents of unconstitutional profiling. Speaking to the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Thursday, Frey described the administration’s actions as “an invasion on our democracy” and reiterated his call for an immediate end to the federal operation.
Hours after Homan stated that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison had “clarified” that county jails could inform the government when violent offenders are released, Ellison issued a statement prioritizing an end to the federal surge and investigating the deaths of Good and Pretti.
“We will not make any concessions or compromises to undermine our state sovereignty,” he wrote, adding that he “did not make, and could not have made, any agreement” with Homan regarding county officials’ interactions with ICE.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the state’s largest jail system, has a policy of not honoring ICE detainer requests. When asked if Sheriff Dawanna Witt planned to revise this stance after meeting with Homan, spokesperson Megan Larson offered no commitment, stating that any changes “must come through clear statewide policy direction and legislation.”
In an advisory opinion last year, Ellison asserted that local jails cannot legally hold inmates at ICE’s request if they are eligible for release. Ellison reiterated this position this week, adding that Minnesota law requires state and local authorities to notify ICE when a noncitizen is convicted of a felony.
Linus Chan, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and an immigration attorney, noted that while the state has historically complied with this law, DHS is seeking deeper cooperation, including the ability to search local jails and deport individuals not convicted of crimes or eligible for bail. He argued that agreeing to such a policy would misjudge the expectations of Minnesotans, many of whom have protested ICE’s actions.
With President Trump’s poll numbers declining and internal conflicts plaguing the mass-deportation plan, some Minnesota residents believe a deal now would be premature. Others fear that despite Homan’s efforts, federal authorities will continue searching Minneapolis for individuals to arrest.
“Given how violent things have been and how awful the situation has gotten, people are not going to just immediately want to turn around and trust anything that is said by the federal government right now,” said Julia Decker, policy director for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
The arrests of journalists and protesters this week have further heightened tensions. Local officials remain frustrated by DHS’s lack of cooperation with investigations into the shootings of Good and Pretti. (The Justice Department announced yesterday that it is opening an investigation into Pretti’s death.)
“The only time this situation will de-escalate is when the federal occupying force ends its siege,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said this week in a video message. “They are the escalating factor, and they have been this entire time.”
President Trump may ultimately decide the fate of the federal operation. After initially suggesting he would “de-escalate a little bit,” Trump on Wednesday attacked Frey for stating the city would not enforce federal immigration law, posting on social media that the mayor was “playing with fire.”
Hours after Homan pledged a significant reduction of forces from Minneapolis if local leaders agreed to cooperate, Trump cast doubt on the more conciliatory approach. While at a premiere for First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary, he was asked whether he planned to pull back in Minnesota.
“No, no, not at all,” he said.
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