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.
It comes as Gregory Bovino, the US Border Patrol chief and public face of the Trump administration's mass deportation drive in cities across the US, is expected to leave the city along with some of his agents.
Homan, 64, is seen both as a key Trump ally and someone with decades of experience in immigration policy across both Republican and Democratic administrations.
He is also one of the most vocal defenders of Trump's immigration policy and mass deportation drive. A native of upstate New York, Homan began his career in law enforcement as a police officer before joining the Border Patrol in 1984 in southern California.
Homan's ascent through the ranks has seen him assume influential roles in various administrations, including heading the Enforcement and Removal Operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Obama.
His unexpected return to immigration enforcement was prompted by a call from Chief of Staff John Kelly just days before Trump took office in 2017. Homan's re-appointment in 2024 also reflects his close ties with the current administration.
While the title of 'border tsar' is informal, it signifies an executive-branch role managing border and immigration policy without needing Senate confirmation.
Homan has been vocal in defending the president's deportation goals, stating that they intend to target the 'worst of the worst' while facing criticism for ensnaring non-criminal undocumented migrants in enforcement actions.
The decision to replace Bovino with Homan is viewed by some as an acknowledgment of urgent reform in response to public concerns over immigration enforcement tactics.
Political observers suggest that while the change in leadership might be seen as significant, Homan's appointment may not result in a fundamental shift away from the aggressive enforcement previously seen under Bovino.
Critics point to Homan's history and approach, indicating skepticism regarding any meaningful change in immigration policy, especially considering his staunch defense of divisive tactics, including family separation.
