Border Czar Homan Praises DHS Operation in Minnesota

Homan says Minnesota officials should 'thank' the Trump administration for cracking down on sanctuary policies.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Former US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan, now serving as the Trump administration's border czar, said on Sunday that Minnesota officials should be thanking the federal government for its crackdown on the state's sanctuary policies. Homan claimed the administration 'fixed' the issue of county jails not cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Why it matters

Homan's comments come after Minnesota's governor and Minneapolis' mayor criticized the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, which they say caused 'deep damage' and 'generational trauma' in the state. The clash highlights the ongoing tensions between states/cities with sanctuary policies and the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts.

The details

Homan appeared on Fox & Friends and said Minnesota 'was a sanctuary state' where 'county jails weren't working with us across the state.' He claimed the administration 'fixed it,' though he did not provide specifics. Minnesota officials have condemned the federal crackdown, with the governor saying the Trump administration has to 'pay for what they broke' and the mayor estimating over $200 million in immediate costs to the city of Minneapolis.

  • On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Homan made the comments on Fox & Friends.
  • In December 2025, the federal government launched 'Operation Metro Surge,' sending a wave of federal agents to Minnesota.

The players

Tom Homan

The former director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who now serves as the Trump administration's border czar.

Tim Walz

The governor of Minnesota who has criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics in the state.

Jacob Frey

The mayor of Minneapolis who has highlighted the economic damage caused by the federal government's 'Operation Metro Surge' in the city.

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What they’re saying

“They were a sanctuary state. Their county jails weren't working with us across the state. So you know what? We fixed it.”

— Tom Homan, Border Czar (Fox & Friends)

“They left us with deep damage, generational trauma, economic ruin. They left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where and what is the process of investigations into those who were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?”

— Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota (Mother Jones)

“Was the chaos worth it? Was the fear worth it?”

— Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis (Mother Jones)

What’s next

Minnesota officials have said they will work to reestablish a state fund for COVID-19 recovery, starting with $10 million in forgivable loans for small businesses. The governor has also stated he has been in contact with federal leadership about the impact of the administration's immigration crackdown.

The takeaway

Homan's praise for the administration's heavy-handed tactics in Minnesota highlights the ongoing clash between states/cities with sanctuary policies and the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts. While the administration claims it 'fixed' the issue, state and local officials say the federal crackdown caused significant damage and trauma in their communities.