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Border czar Tom Homan delivered the news on Thursday that Minnesotans living under federal occupation have been desperately waiting for: the end of the Trump administration’s massive surge of immigration officers in the state.
On its face, it looks like a full-blown retreat by Washington, one that Twin Cities residents would be celebrating in the streets like it’s Mardi Gras after demanding “ICE out.” They’ve been fighting for this outcome since December, when President Donald Trump first deployed thousands of federal agents to carry out his mass deportation agenda. Since then, agents have waged a campaign of terror on immigrant communities, indiscriminately grabbing Black and brown people on the streets and circling elementary schools looking for children to nab. They’ve responded to peaceful protesters with violence, and even killed two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Homan’s announcement appears to signal the end of a “dystopian nightmare,” as a resident put it, one that has left an unknown number of families torn apart, communities shattered, and countless bystanders injured. But some of the people who have been on the front lines of protecting their immigrant friends and neighbors from ICE aren’t ready to call this a win, yet. They’ve seen this before, when top Trump officials declared last week they would be easing operations ― and then nothing changed. Minnesotans are showing no signs of backing down either. If anything, they said they’re staying as vigilant as ever.
