FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Behalf of the ICE Out of Minnesota Coalition (sign on orgs listed below) 

A Political Stunt: Minnesota Labor, Faith, Community Groups Issue Statement on Tom Homan’s “Drawdown” as Thousands of Federal Agents to Remain in Minnesota

Groups Remain Clear: ICE Needs to Leave Minnesota, Families Deserve Justice for Unlawful, Violent DHS Operations

MINNESOTA - February 4, 2026 - This morning, White House Border Czar Tom Homan held a press conference on DHS operations in Minnesota and announced what he called a “drawdown,” claiming roughly 700 agents would leave. More than 2,000 federal agents remain embedded across Minnesota under what DHS is now calling “prioritized” or “targeted” enforcement. This still leaves thousands of agents in the state tearing apart families while attacks on peaceful observers continue unabated. 

“Today’s announcement is simply a political stunt as debate rages about funding and accountability for DHS. There are still thousands of masked, unaccountable agents terrorizing our communities, attacking peaceful observers, and undermining Minnesotans’ constitutional and civil rights. Throughout this ‘surge,’ Minnesotans across the state have made our demands as clear as possible: ICE needs to leave our state. 

“This sudden shift in language is not accidental. It comes as federal agencies face budget negotiations and mounting public scrutiny. Rebranding mass enforcement as “prioritized” enforcement is an attempt to preserve funding, not to protect communities.

“This announcement makes clear that the groundswell of everyday Minnesotans standing up to these atrocities is starting to work, but this is not a victory. Until families can leave their homes without fear of being profiled and children can go to school without worrying about being used as bait, Minnesotans will remain insistent on our demand for ICE to leave our state and will continue to peacefully push to make this a reality. 

“Additionally, comments in regards to federal forces not leaving until our state stops standing up for our neighbors is a non-starter. The First Amendment exists whether this administration likes it or not, and demanding we stop peacefully standing up to attacks on our neighbors and communities is not even remotely a possibility. Until our state is safe for all of us, Minnesotans will not give up the fight.”

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Signed by: 
Centro De Trabajadores Unidos En La Lucha (CTUL)

COPAL
Faith in Minnesota
Indivisible Twin Cities

Immigrant Defense Network
Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
MN AFL-CIO
MN 50501
SEIU Local 26
SEIU Minnesota State Council

Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Sunrise Movement
TakeAction Minnesota
Unidos MN
United Renters for Justice / Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia
Women’s March Minnesota