In an unexpected turn amid rising tensions over federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, US President Donald Trump said he had a “very good” telephone conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz about the recent Minneapolis shooting involving federal agents. Trump added that the two leaders now appear to be on a “similar wavelength.” The dialogue comes against a backdrop of intense debate in Minnesota after a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis led to the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man by a Border Patrol agent, an incident that sparked protests and political controversy across the country.
Trump sends Tom Homan
In a social media post on X, Trump said he told Gov Walz that he would have Tom Homan, his administration’s immigration enforcement coordinator reach out to Minnesota officials. “What we are looking for are any and all criminals that they have in their possession,” Trump wrote, stressing that Walz was receptive and “was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota.”
He added, “both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!”
The outreach marks a shift from earlier public friction between the two leaders. Gov. Walz had previously called for withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota following the shooting, urging Trump to “pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota” and end the operation.
Minneapolis immigration crackdown
The development comes after United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot a 51-year-old person in Minneapolis on Saturday during ongoing immigration enforcement activity which also killed a woman driver in Minneapolis about two weeks ago. Federal officials said the officer acted to protect himself, while city leaders strongly disagreed and questioned the need for the action.
The woman, aged 37, was shot in the head in a snow-covered residential neighborhood in south Minneapolis. The incident happened shortly after 9:30 am and took place in front of a family member. The location is close to long-established immigrant markets and not far from the area where George Floyd was killed in 2020.