The president has entrusted Tom Homan with the delicate task of managing ICE in Minnesota. And who knows, one day the president will put him in charge of the Department of Homeland Security
What’s happening in Minneapolis? In recent days, Donald Trump has had friendly telephone conversations with both the mayor of the city, Jacob Frey, and the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz. In particular, after weeks of tension, the American president reached a compromise with the latter, sending Tom Homan to his state: the current US border manager who will now lead the anti-immigration operations there. At the same time, Trump decided to have the ICE commander, Greg Bovino, withdraw from Minneapolis.
And here is the heart of the compromise: the American president has obtained that the local authorities of Minnesota and, in particular, of Minneapolis, cooperate with the federal forces: which will mark the end of the “sanctuary jurisdiction” that had until now been in force in this area. On the other hand, Walz will see the presence of ICE reduced in the territory he administers and will be able to have state officials participate in the investigation into the death of Alex Pretti. It can be said that, in a certain sense, the compromise is already working. On Monday, shortly after the conciliatory phone call between Trump and Walz, Maple Grove police arrested anti-Ice protesters who had indulged in acts of violence and vandalism: an operation in which the Minnesota State Patrol also collaborated. Furthermore, on Tuesday, Walz received Homan: on this occasion, the two agreed to maintain an “ongoing dialogue” to achieve the “goals” set during the phone call between Trump and the governor.
More generally, the Minnesota compromise is having repercussions at the national level. By sending Homan (who will report directly to the White House) and firing Bovino, the American president has de facto bypassed the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem. In fact, it seems that Trump was not satisfied with his handling of the Pretti case. Noem, for her part, didn’t take it very well. And, on Monday evening, she was received in the Oval Office by the president, with whom, according to CNN, she had a “candid” conversation. It must be said that tensions had already arisen between Homan and Noem in recent months. The first believes that, as far as repatriations are concerned, priority should be given to illegal immigrants with criminal records and that, at the same time, communication should be clear and sober. Noem, for her part, has embraced a more emphatic communication, also setting herself much broader objectives: which, according to critics, would have overloaded the Ice and Border Patrol agents with work.
Of course, in the last few hours, the president has officially confirmed his trust in the Secretary of Homeland Security. However, the latter’s seat is becoming increasingly shaky. Beyond the requests for impeachment from some Democratic senators, discontent towards her is also growing among Republican parliamentarians. Although nothing has yet been decided, it cannot therefore be ruled out that, sooner or later, Trump may decide to fire her (perhaps by changing her role) and replace her with Homan himself, whose shares have risen significantly in recent days. Let us remember that, despite the demonization he has recently suffered from the liberal press, Homan is a technician who has served in administrations of various political colours. Indeed, in 2015, Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Rank Award for its effective work in repatriation activities. He was subsequently placed at the helm of ICE by the first Trump administration. Then, Trump himself, having just reinstated himself in the White House last year, promptly appointed him responsible for US borders. Who knows, in the coming months the president will choose him as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security.
