Trump cuts 700 immigration officers from Minnesota after fatal shootings

Before the launch of sweeping immigration operations, there were only 150 federal immigration officers in the state of Minnesota. Photo / Charly Triballeau, AFP

Donald Trump’s administration has announced the removal of 700 immigration enforcement officers from Minnesota after weeks of operations and the fatal shooting of two protesters that sparked outrage across the United States.

But Tom Homan, a senior Trump official, said that the contentious deployment in Minneapolis would be extended, noting that about 2000 immigration officers would still be present after the drawdown.

Homan – sent by the President to oversee the crackdown in the city – said the reduction would take effect immediately, citing increased co-operation with local authorities.

Explaining the decision, Homan said there are now “more officers taking custody of criminal aliens directly from the jails” rather than detaining them on the streets – efforts that require fewer personnel.

Before the launch of sweeping immigration operations, there were only 150 federal immigration officers in the state.

Homan also stressed he would not be leaving Minneapolis –which has become a major flashpoint in Trump’s overall immigration policy – “until we get it all done”.

‘Bloodshed’

“President Trump fully intends to achieve mass deportations during this administration, and immigration enforcement actions will continue every day throughout this country,” Homan said.

He also took aim at “extreme rhetoric” against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, saying: “I said back in March of this year, if the hateful rhetoric didn’t stop, I was afraid there would be bloodshed, and there has been.”

Federal agents shot and killed unarmed Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman, as she attempted to drive away from an ICE enforcement operation last month, triggering protests and criticism from civil rights groups and local officials.

Another Minneapolis resident, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, also 37, was beaten and shot dead by federal agents in a separate incident.

Both victims were US citizens. The killings drew international attention and condemnation over the Government’s false accounts of what happened, intensifying public concern about the conduct of federal immigration operations.

Following outcry over the shootings, Trump withdrew combative Customs and Border Protection commander Gregory Bovino and replaced him with the more policy-focused Homan, who pledged to draw down the operation with conditions.

-Agence France-Presse