Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis -- the second shooting of a U.S. citizen last month by federal agents in the city. His death was ruled a homicide by the county medical examiner.
The shooting of Pretti, an ICU nurse, ratcheted up tensions, as protesters clashed in the streets with law enforcement in the aftermath of the shooting.
The incident followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, on Jan. 7.
2,000 fed officers will remain in state, Homan said
When asked to clarify how many federal agents will remain in Minnesota, Border Czar Tom Homan said, "right around 2,000," would be doing "immigration enforcement efforts."
Homan noted that the pre-operation footprint was 150 agents.
"We got to remember, we have special agents on detail here doing fraud investigation. They're not going anywhere," Homan added. "They're going to finish their jobs.
White House 'border czar' Tom Homan speaks during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 4, 2026.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
Feb 04, 2026, 9:27 AM EST
Homan says personnel providing security won't immediately draw down
While Border Czar Tom Homan said there would be a "draw down" of agents, he added that federal personnel providing security will not leave the city until the federal government sees a change in the "lawlessness" impeding ICE and Border Patrol agents.
"Stop impeding, stop violating the law because we will arrest you," he said Wednesday morning.
White House 'border czar' Tom Homan speaks during a press conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 4, 2026.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
Feb 04, 2026, 9:22 AM EST
Feds to 'draw down' 700 agents in Minnesota
Border Czar Tom Homan said Wednesday the federal government will "draw down" 700 agents in the Minnesota area "effective immediately."
He also said that CBP and ICE agents in Minnesota are aligned.
"Any large operation I've ever been apart of is one chain of command and that's where we're moving forward," he said.
-ABC News' Luke Barr
White House 'border czar' Tom Homan speaks to the press outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, January 14, 2026.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Feb 04, 2026, 5:35 AM EST
Homan to speak in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning
The White House’s border czar, Tom Homan, is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Homan is expected to speak at 8 a.m. CT, according to the White House.
White House border czar Tom Homan leaves a news conference at the Bishop Whipple Federal building on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 in Minneapolis.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
The border czar was dispatched early last week to Minnesota to attempt to find a solution to the tensions that have roiled the state in the wake of two fatal shootings involving federal agents.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection have been carrying out Operation Metro Surge in the state.
An person is detained by federal agents on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Ryan Murphy/AP
Homan said last Thursday that "massive changes" were expected, saying he had reached agreements with local and state officials that would eventually "draw down" the number of federal agents in the city.
"We will conduct targeted enforcement operations -- targeted; what we've done for decades," Homan said last week. "When we hit the streets, we know exactly who we're looking for, have a good idea of where we may find them."
