Obama ICE chief weighs in on Minneapolis changes

A former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director, who served under President Barack Obama, said the decision to deploy Tom Homan to Minneapolis is a positive step following two fatal shootings in the city.

John Sandweg, who led the agency from August 2013 to February 2014, told Newsweek on Wednesday that Homan’s appointment comes at a critical moment, after Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino was removed from overseeing operations in Minneapolis.

Renée Nicole Good, 37, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathon Ross in Minneapolis on January 7 during a federal enforcement operation. The Department of Homeland Security said the agent fired what it described as “defensive shots” after Good allegedly attempted to run over an officer.

However, video footage appears to contradict the government’s account.

Alex Pretti, also 37, was killed less than three weeks later, on January 24, during a separate federal enforcement action in Minneapolis. Trump administration officials like Bovino, Stephen Miller, and Kristi Noem initially characterized the incident using ‘domestic terrorism’ language, a description that has been disputed by witnesses and challenged by video footage reviewed by news organizations.

“Tom is a very seasoned federal agent. I had an opportunity to spend five years working with Tom. He brings a wealth of experience,” Sandweg said.

He added that under Bovino, who comes from a Border Patrol background, had been “importing those tactics into Minneapolis,” which he described as inappropriate for an urban enforcement environment.

Sandweg also criticized statements made by Bovino after the Minneapolis shooting, calling them “wildly inappropriate on multiple levels.” He emphasized that Homan’s approach is expected to be more aligned with standard ICE procedures, maintaining professional and orderly operations.

“Tom understands that you can have immigration enforcement that doesn’t need to look like the image of the chaos we see in Minneapolis. And I do think Tom is going to be capable of restoring order. It doesn’t mean that Tom is not going to back down,” he said.

Homan, a former ICE director and longtime federal agent, has a reputation as an enforcement hawk, Sandweg said. He suggested his deployment could bring Minneapolis operations in line with practices observed nationwide.

“I think the deployment of Tom is definitely a step in the right direction. And let’s see what, you know, let’s see how these play out in the next few days.”

Sandweg also addressed calls from some Democrats to abolish ICE, arguing that the agency itself is not the core issue, but rather the system itself.

“I don’t think abolishing ICE is the issue. If there’s a congressional reform that needs to first be adopted, like you want to solve a lot of the concerns with ICE, you first need to address the immigration laws,” Sandweg.

“Before we worry about abolishing ICE or restructuring ICE or doing any of this window dressing, we need to address the root of the problem, which is that we need to find a consensus on how to modernize our immigration laws in a way that meets our needs in the country today.”

He said ICE plays a critical role in national security and public safety, but warned that public confidence in the agency has been eroded by inconsistent messaging and operational decisions, particularly following the deaths in Minneapolis.

“The public is losing faith and confidence in what ICE and DHS say. And that erosion of public trust is hard to win back, and it impacts ICE’s operations,” Sandweg said.

He said the coming days will be key in determining whether tensions in Minneapolis ease, particularly if Border Patrol agents are withdrawn from the city, and enforcement returns to more targeted, traditional ICE practices.

Homan is set to hold a press conference at 8 AM ET later in Minneapolis.