U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly installed as commander of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, said on Thursday that federal agents would focus on “targeted” operations, shifting away from the broad street sweeps that have drawn widespread outrage.

Homan also said he would reduce the 3,000-strong force of agents deployed to the city if he received “cooperation” from state and local leaders, noting that he has had productive meetings with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both vocal critics of the surge.

“We can do better,” he said, in a rare acknowledgment from a Trump official that the operation has not been perfect. “We made some significant gains, significant coordination and cooperation, and you’re going to see some massive changes occurring here in this city.”

Homan’s public remarks – his first since Trump dispatched him to the city on Monday in response to the national outcry – suggested a continued effort to de-escalate from the administration, which has been under intensifying political pressure after two U.S. citizens were shot dead by federal agents.

A newly issued internal memo from a high-ranking Immigration and Customs Enforcement official directs federal officers to refrain from any unnecessary communication and engagement with “agitators” so as to avoid “inflaming the situation.”

The directive, reviewed by Reuters late on Wednesday, also orders ICE officers to only target immigrants who have records of criminal charges or convictions, a departure from earlier tactics that included randomly stopping people on the street to demand documented proof of legal U.S. residence or citizenship.

Echoing that directive, Homan said agents would prioritize those who pose a threat to public safety or national security, though he was careful to emphasize that the Trump administration remains committed to deporting any and all immigrants living in the country illegally.

“We’re not surrendering our mission at all, we’re just doing it smarter,” he said.

He also pushed for more access to Minnesota jails for ICE agents so they can pick up targeted immigrants when they are released from local custody, which he said would lessen the need for more disruptive and dangerous street sweeps.

Judge Castigates ICE

The memo and Homan’s words contrasted with tough talk coming from Trump on Wednesday.

A day after sounding a conciliatory tone in his public remarks, the Republican president took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday to warn that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, was “playing with fire” by continuing to insist that city authorities would play no role in enforcing federal immigration laws.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Minneapolis criticized ICE on Wednesday for violating at least 96 court orders in 74 separate cases.

“This list should give pause to anyone – no matter his or her political beliefs – who cares about the rule of law,” U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz, the chief federal judge in Minnesota, wrote in a filing. “ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2025 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”

Scene on the Streets

Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, have seen widespread demonstrations since Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead behind the wheel of her car by an ICE agent on January 7.

Public outrage deepened further after Saturday’s fatal shooting of an intensive care nurse, Alex Pretti, also 37, as he recorded immigration agents along with other protesters.

In both cases, Trump administration officials immediately defended the federal agents involved in the shootings and denounced both Good and Pretti as “domestic terrorists” who they claimed were threatening law enforcement.

Multiple video recordings of the two incidents contradict the notion that either Good or Pretti intended to harm anyone.

Notably, Homan declined to offer his opinion on the shootings on Thursday, saying he would let the investigations play out.

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(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Minneapolis; Writing by Steve Gorman and Joseph Ax; Additional reporting by Kristina Cooke, Ted Hesson, Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu, Jarrett Renshaw and Jonathan AllenEditing by Paul Thomasch and Nick Zieminski)