Homan Speaks in Minnesota, Leads Immigration Crackdown
In Minnesota, a shift in immigration enforcement operations is underway under the leadership of Tom Homan. The changes come as ICE officers receive new directives from their leadership aimed at managing public interactions during enforcement actions.
New Directives for ICE Officers
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has introduced internal guidance to its officers in Minnesota. This new directive emphasizes the need to avoid contact with “agitators” during immigration enforcement activities. According to an email from Marcos Charles, head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, officers should “not communicate or engage with agitators.”
This guidance aims to prevent escalating tensions during enforcement operations, especially following two recent fatal incidents involving federal agents. The email states that the only communication allowed should be commands issued by the officers.
Targeted Enforcement Strategy
- ICE will focus on immigrants with a criminal history.
- Enforcement actions will include arrests based on criminal nexus, not solely convictions.
- All targets must have previous criminal records.
Under the newly implemented strategy, officers will receive megaphones to issue commands clearly to the public. Officers are advised to verbalize each step of the arrest process, although the guidance does not specify what actions may provoke these commands or the protocol if commands are ignored.
Operational Changes and Support
ICE officers will also have the authority to conduct license plate checks. If they find that the registered vehicle owner is an immigrant with a criminal history, they are instructed to proceed with an arrest. In this operation, Border Patrol will play a supporting role, a departure from previous policies under the former Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino.
These changes in strategy reflect ongoing discussions on effective enforcement in Minnesota. Homan is expected to speak at a press conference in Minneapolis, shedding more light on these significant operational shifts.
Next Steps
The new operational guidance has not yet been officially announced. The White House has indicated that conversations regarding the effectiveness of these procedures are ongoing, and nothing is final until confirmed.
