Minneapolis live updates: ICE arrest powers expanded, memo says

"Under the president's leadership, we have the most secure border in the history of our nation," said border czar Tom Homan on Thursday morning.

When asked about how many Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents are currently operating in Minnesota, Homan did not give a figure but said that his main focus now is "draw down."

Homan claimed that 12,000 people per day were coming across the border illegally under former President Joe Biden, and said that the deployment of a large number of ICE agents was necessary to secure the border and manage the "humanitarian crisis."

Homan also called on state officials to "stand shoulder to shoulder with us" and to condemn "all unlawful actions against law enforcement," reiterating that the withdrawal of law enforcement "dependent on cooperation."

Tom Homan said in a press conference on Thursday morning in Minneapolis that while he didn’t agree with everything that state officials said in his discussions with them, there has been meaningful dialogue.

Since arriving in Minnesota, Homan has had meetings with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both of whom are Democrats who've called for an end to the federal operation in the state.

"I don't want to see anybody die," Homan said. "Not officers, not members of the community, not the targets of operations.:

Homan said he hoped that "massive: changes will be coming to Minnesota, adding officers are performing duties in a "challenging environment" and said that hostility and hateful rhetoric must stop.

Tom Homan said that ICE will be working with county jails in an agreement with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to arrest undocumented immigrants in a "common sense" approach to tackling illegal immigration.

Homan said that this method is "safer for the community, it’s safer for the agent and it’s safer for the alien," and suggested that this would result in "less agents in the street and more agents in the jail."

Trump administration border czar Tom Homan said in a press conference in Minneapolis on Thursday morning that "sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals" and that he will now focus on regaining order by removing "threats from the community."

Homan added that he will be working to identify and remove undocumented immigrants that "pose a public safety threat and a national security threat."

"I didn't come here looking for photo ops and headlines," Homan said. "I come here looking for solutions."