Trump administration to withdraw 700 immigration agents from Minnesota: Border czar

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Trump administration plans to cut 700 federal immigration agents from the state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced on Wednesday, in a move reducing a deployment that has drawn nationwide controversy.

"Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need of less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I am announcing effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people," Homan said at a news conference in Minneapolis.

Homan said the administration had also moved "immediately" to prioritize full body camera deployment in the city.

Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and shootings by federal immigration agents that have taken place for more than a month across the Midwestern state. Demonstrations escalated and spread nationwide following the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by immigration officers last month, and the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.

The Pretti shooting heightened tensions as local and state leaders demanded independent investigations and questioned federal cooperation with authorities.