Minnesota Is Quietly Cooperating With ICE While the Streets Tell a Different Story
Minneapolis has emerged as one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the national immigration debate. While protests and viral videos suggest chaos and resistance to federal enforcement, new statements from White House border czar Tom Homan reveal something very different happening behind jailhouse doors. Local and county authorities in Minnesota are increasingly cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, allowing ICE to take custody of criminal aliens directly from jails before they are released into the community.
That cooperation has led to a significant operational shift. On Wednesday, Homan announced that 700 federal immigration officers would be withdrawn from Minnesota, citing what he repeatedly described as unprecedented cooperation from local jurisdictions. According to Homan, this cooperation makes enforcement more efficient, safer for officers, and safer for the public.
Homan’s Argument: Smarter Enforcement Requires Cooperation
Speaking to the press, Homan emphasized that cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE reduces the need for large scale community operations. When criminal aliens are released from custody instead of transferred to ICE, federal agents must locate and arrest them in neighborhoods, workplaces, or homes. That approach requires more officers and increases the risk of confrontation.
Homan explained that when counties allow ICE to assume custody directly from jails, it often takes only one or two officers rather than eight or ten. He described the current level of cooperation in Minnesota as unprecedented and said it allows federal authorities to redeploy personnel more effectively.
“This is smart law enforcement,” Homan said. “It is safer for the community, safer for officers, and safer for the alien.”
Despite headlines framing the reduction of officers as a victory for the political left, supporters of enforcement argue the opposite. They see the drawdown as evidence that Homan achieved what he has long demanded: compliance with federal law inside local detention facilities.
Seven Hundred Officers Leave but Enforcement Remains
According to reporting by The Washington Times, approximately 700 federal officers began leaving Minnesota immediately following Homan’s announcement. However, more than 2,000 federal agents remain in the region. Homan made clear that the reduction does not signal retreat but rather operational success.
The Washington Times reported that the drawdown occurred because local authorities began allowing ICE access to jails, eliminating the need for large scale arrest operations in the community. The Department of Homeland Security framed the shift as a sign that enforcement objectives were being met more efficiently.
Bergquam’s Reporting Highlights the Street Level Reality
While policy negotiations and law enforcement coordination occur behind the scenes, street level tensions remain high. Ben Bergquam, host of Real America’s Voice show Law and Border and a frequent correspondent on immigration issues, has posted multiple videos and statements documenting protests and confrontations in Minneapolis and St Paul.
In one widely shared post, Bergquam described scenes of anti ICE demonstrations in which activists took over streets with no visible police presence. He argued that defunding law enforcement and sanctuary policies created an environment where mobs replace the rule of law. His language was incendiary, but the videos show streets blocked and officers absent during demonstrations.
“This is what defund the police got you,” Bergquam wrote, adding that Minneapolis had fallen to lawlessness.
Criminal Case Highlights Enforcement Stakes
Bergquam also posted video and commentary regarding a criminal incident in St Paul involving an illegal alien with multiple prior DUI convictions. According to his reporting, the individual rammed an ICE vehicle and struck a civilian car during an arrest attempt. ICE had targeted the suspect due to his criminal history and public safety risk.
Bergquam argued that the incident illustrated precisely why Homan insists criminal aliens should be transferred directly from local custody. When they are released instead, federal officers must conduct arrests in public settings, increasing danger for everyone involved.
“This did not have to happen,” Bergquam wrote. “This is what happens when local officials refuse to cooperate.”
ICE later confirmed the suspect was taken into custody and transferred to the Whipple Federal Building.
Mixed Media Narratives Fuel Political Confusion
Coverage of Homan’s announcement has been divided. Some outlets framed the officer drawdown as a concession to protesters and progressive officials. Others highlighted Homan’s repeated praise for Democratic leaders in Minnesota, including Governor Tim Walz, for allowing ICE access to jails.
People should take note of Johnathan Turley’s POV:
For more of our recent coverage of Ben Bergquam: