President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he thinks his administration needs to employ a “softer touch” in carrying out its mass deportation campaign in Minnesota, just hours after he ordered the withdrawal of hundreds of immigration officials from the state.
“I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch,” Trump said during an interview with NBC News that is scheduled to air Wednesday evening. “But you still have to be tough.”
The apparent shift in attitude toward law enforcement tactics in Minnesota comes after two fatal shootings at the hands of federal agents prompted widespread protests across the country.
This week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that all federal agents in Minnesota will be equipped with body cameras and agreed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing in early March.
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Border czar Tom Homan on Wednesday morning also confirmed that 700 federal agents will be pulled from duty in the state.
Trump confirmed to NBC News that he made the official call on Tuesday to withdraw the agents — though a sizable force of around 2,000 federal agents remain in place, significantly more than the average of 150 agents usually in the state.
“But it didn’t come from me because I just wanted to do it,” Trump added. “We are waiting for them to release prisoners, give us the murderers that they’re holding and all of the bad people, drug dealers, all of the bad people.”
It remains unclear whether the agents’ aggressive tactics will change much following Trump’s and Homan’s comments.
Wednesday’s withdrawal of agents sparked backlash from local officials and community leaders who argued that not enough agents were pulled from the state to de-escalate tensions following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also faced several lawsuits for its aggressive tactics against immigrants, protesters and journalists.
“The drawdown and body-worn cameras are a step in the right direction, but 2,000 ICE officers still here is not de-escalation,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey posted to X on Wednesday. “My message to the White House has been consistent – Operation Metro Surge has been catastrophic for our residents and businesses. It needs to end immediately.”
On Tuesday, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, penned a letter to Noem requesting a bevy of data on DHS’ operation in his home state — including statistics on arrests, apprehensions and releases, use of force investigations, training materials and encounters with citizens.
“Interior enforcement carried out by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must be effective, disciplined, and fully compliant with constitutional and statutory limits. While these agencies have historically met that standard, recent operations raise serious questions that require direct oversight,” Tillis wrote.
Tillis did not mention the deaths of Good and Pretti, but made several references to improper uses of force and detainments of citizens.
“I seek clarification as to whether these reports are merely disingenuous accounts from partisans who do not share our commitment to a secure border, or if they reflect substantiated incidents,” he wrote.
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