Protesters in Minneapolis gathered outside a hotel where the newly appointed U.S. Border Patrol commander, Tom Homan, was rumored to be staying. As night fell and the temperature dropped below freezing, the crowd's energy turned chaotic. The demonstrators had come to bid farewell to Greg Bovino, who had been removed from his position as a roving U.S. Border Patrol commander after just one day.
Bovino's departure has brought relief to many in Minnesota, but concerns about Homan's record and approach to immigration enforcement have raised questions about the potential changes ahead. Homan, Trump's border czar, is known for his aggressive deportation policies and has a history of targeting undocumented immigrants. The new commander may bring little change to the aggressive tactics employed by Bovino's team.
University of Minnesota law professor Emmanuel Mauleón said that swapping out personnel does not necessarily mean changes in policies or enforcement priorities. "All that we know at this moment is that they're swapping out personnel. That doesn’t tell us anything about policies... All that we know at this moment is that they’re swapping out personnel. That doesn’t tell us anything about policies."
Homan's record speaks for itself. He was once head of ERO, under President Obama, and was responsible for more than 920,000 deportations during his tenure. The most recent deportation numbers are staggering. In New York City alone, the Immigrant Defense Project reported a 900 percent increase in ICE arrests or attempted arrests at local courthouses.
The Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration has sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about its effects on communities. With Homan at the helm of U.S. Border Patrol, it remains to be seen how he will implement his policies in Minnesota.
His arrival comes as a wave of national outrage swirls around the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. Bovino had previously been criticized for downplaying the role of his team in Pretti's death.
A recent memo issued by the Trump administration asserts that immigration agents can enter homes without a judicial warrant, an assertion that has been deemed unconstitutional by legal scholars.
The Intercept noted that, despite Homan's new position, there is little evidence to suggest significant changes in policies. Instead, many believe it may be a matter of crisis management more than anything else.
Homan has previously threatened those who oppose his tactics, including targeting protesters and activists with the intention of making them "famous" on social media. The Department of Homeland Security has been building a database of individuals deemed to be opponents of immigration enforcement policies, which could further exacerbate tensions in communities already on high alert.
As one thing is clear: Minnesota's resistance to mass deportations will not be easily defeated. Despite Homan's presence, the network of rapid responders working to prevent mass deportations remains committed to their cause.
For now, the future of immigration enforcement under Homan and his new team in Minnesota hangs in the balance. As the nation watches and waits, one thing is certain: The Trump administration's relentless assault on democratic institutions will not soon be forgotten.
Bovino's departure has brought relief to many in Minnesota, but concerns about Homan's record and approach to immigration enforcement have raised questions about the potential changes ahead. Homan, Trump's border czar, is known for his aggressive deportation policies and has a history of targeting undocumented immigrants. The new commander may bring little change to the aggressive tactics employed by Bovino's team.
University of Minnesota law professor Emmanuel Mauleón said that swapping out personnel does not necessarily mean changes in policies or enforcement priorities. "All that we know at this moment is that they're swapping out personnel. That doesn’t tell us anything about policies... All that we know at this moment is that they’re swapping out personnel. That doesn’t tell us anything about policies."
Homan's record speaks for itself. He was once head of ERO, under President Obama, and was responsible for more than 920,000 deportations during his tenure. The most recent deportation numbers are staggering. In New York City alone, the Immigrant Defense Project reported a 900 percent increase in ICE arrests or attempted arrests at local courthouses.
The Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration has sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about its effects on communities. With Homan at the helm of U.S. Border Patrol, it remains to be seen how he will implement his policies in Minnesota.
His arrival comes as a wave of national outrage swirls around the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. Bovino had previously been criticized for downplaying the role of his team in Pretti's death.
A recent memo issued by the Trump administration asserts that immigration agents can enter homes without a judicial warrant, an assertion that has been deemed unconstitutional by legal scholars.
The Intercept noted that, despite Homan's new position, there is little evidence to suggest significant changes in policies. Instead, many believe it may be a matter of crisis management more than anything else.
Homan has previously threatened those who oppose his tactics, including targeting protesters and activists with the intention of making them "famous" on social media. The Department of Homeland Security has been building a database of individuals deemed to be opponents of immigration enforcement policies, which could further exacerbate tensions in communities already on high alert.
As one thing is clear: Minnesota's resistance to mass deportations will not be easily defeated. Despite Homan's presence, the network of rapid responders working to prevent mass deportations remains committed to their cause.
For now, the future of immigration enforcement under Homan and his new team in Minnesota hangs in the balance. As the nation watches and waits, one thing is certain: The Trump administration's relentless assault on democratic institutions will not soon be forgotten.
. In 2022, a study found that the state had prevented over 200,000 deportations 
. That's a lot of people who wouldn't have to leave their homes or families behind 
.
. Over 920,000 deportations under Homan's previous role? That's a staggering number 
. In New York City alone, there was a 900% increase in ICE arrests or attempted arrests at local courthouses 
.
. That's a significant shift 
. The Biden administration's efforts to reform immigration policies have likely contributed to this change 
.
. It will be interesting to see how Homan's approach differs from previous administrations 
.
. The numbers are staggering, especially when you consider that 70% of people deported have not committed a crime 
.
. And with over 1 million undocumented immigrants living in Minnesota alone, this network will likely be crucial in preventing further deportations 
.
. The Trump administration's aggressive tactics have sparked widespread outrage and concern 
. Will Homan's approach differ? Only time will tell 
.
This is getting crazy in Minneapolis! I don't think swapping out personnel like Bovino for Homan is gonna change much. Homan has a rep for being super aggressive with deportation policies and it's already causing tension in the community 
He was part of the Trump admin that deported over 920k people, can you imagine?! 
It's like they're trying to silence people who speak out against their tactics. I hope the Minnesotans keep pushing back against this! 
has anyone got any ideas on how to stop these mass deportations? or is it just gonna be more of the same? 
. All these protests in Minneapolis and the fact that people are worried about his record on immigration enforcement does make sense. I mean, 920k deportations under his belt is a pretty scary number 
. I'm not sure how much more of this Minnesota can take before they have to take a stand. But one thing's for sure - the resistance won't be going away anytime soon 
. It's not just about Homan, it's about the future of our country and how we treat all people, regardless of their immigration status 
.
the way they're handling these situations is just terrifying 
anyway we gotta keep protesting and making our voices heard for change 
minnesota's resistance is going to keep fighting though 
meanwhile minnesota's community is already feeling the heat from these changes and i just can't even handle thinking about what might happen to alex pretti's family or other people caught up in this mess 
so minnesota is basically saying goodbye to a dude who was pretty meh about immigration enforcement and hello to someone who's literally notorious for being super aggressive about it 
I'm worried about what might happen with all these changes in immigration enforcement 
my cousin lives in minnesota and she's always complaining about how the forecast is off by like 10 degrees or something... maybe we should just give up on those things and use our intuition instead? anyway, back to this border patrol guy... i'm not sure why people are so worked up about him being there, can't they just focus on their own stuff?