Tom Homan, the White House border czar, said about 700 federal agents would leave Minnesota, a large drop in agents on the ground but still leaving about 2,000 agents there, far above typical levels for the state.
Homan said the reduction came as county jails were negotiating over increased coordination with federal officials, though it’s not clear which counties have agreed to coordinate with immigration enforcement officials.
Donald Trump meanwhile has said that he’s learned his administration could use “a little bit of a softer touch” on immigration enforcement, following the immense backlash to his ongoing crackdown in Minnesota. “You still have to be tough,” Trump said. “These are criminals we’re dealing with, really hard criminals.”
In a forthcoming interview with NBC News, Trump said that the decision to draw down 700 officers in the North Star state came from him, but the administration is “waiting for [Minnesota] to release prisoners”.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Minnesota governor Tim Walz said it’s not that the federal government has had a change of heart; it’s that they know they’re losing politically.
“I don’t see how they continue on with this in any way that makes any sense, both politically and operationally for them,” he said. Still, he’s looking for more than rhetoric from the administration. “None of this matters unless there’s proof on the ground,” he said.
White House border czar says 700 federal agents will leave Minnesota
Chuck Schumer, the US Senate minority leader, said the reduction of 700 agents wasn’t enough. “ICE’s abuses go beyond the headlines. Residents are afraid to go to schools, to grocery stores, to even step outside. Agents are patrolling the streets like a military operation,” he said. “All of ICE needs to leave Minneapolis now.”
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California can use new congressional map in November, supreme court rules
California can use a new congressional map that was approved by voters in November, the supreme court has ruled, handing Democrats a major victory in their effort to neutralize Donald Trump’s push to protect Republicans’ fragile House majority in this year’s midterm elections.
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Democrats say Trump’s immigration crackdown has undermined efforts to combat human trafficking
A diversion of law enforcement personnel and resources to assist with Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign and deployments to US cities has undermined the government’s efforts to combat child exploitation and human trafficking, Democratic lawmakers warned.
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Man who tried to assassinate Trump in Florida sentenced to life in prison
A man convicted of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison.
US district judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh’s fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts.
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Steve Bannon calls for immigration agents at polling sites during midterms
Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist and rightwing podcast host, said he wants to see immigration agents at the polls in November, a proposal that election officials have feared.
Bannon has no formal power, but is an influential figure on the far right and is closely tied with the Trump administration.
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What else happened today:
Catching up? Here’s what happened on 3 February 2026.
