LIVE UPDATES | ICE in Minnesota: Trump border czar says withdrawal of feds depends on cooperation

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Immigration operations continue in Minnesota on Thursday. In White House Border Czar Tom Homan's first briefing after taking over Operation Metro Surge, he said they're working on a drawdown plan for federal agents in Minnesota, but it depends on cooperation with state and local officials. 

This comes after Homan said he's had conversations with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, as well as county sheriffs and other local officials. He said cooperation with local authorities, especially jails and prisons, will give federal agents better access to people in the United States illegally. This would then lead to fewer federal law enforcement on Minnesota streets. 

Homan said the drawdown plan of federal agents depends on cooperation and targets they have left to find. As for the number of federal agents in Minnesota as of Thursday, Homan would not provide a number. Previously, court records show there were more than 3,000 federal agents in the state as part of Operation Metro Surge. 

"My main focus now is drawdown, based upon the great conversations I’ve had with your state and local leaders," Homan said. 

Homan did acknowledge immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota haven’t been perfect but was adamant the Trump administration isn’t surrendering.

Find live updates on ICE operations in Minnesota below. Watch FOX 9 live in the player above. Coverage of additional live events can be watched in the player below.

8:15 a.m. - New court filings for ICE TRO

The City of Minneapolis is trying to use President Trump's "playing with fire" Truth Social post among the exhibits supporting their motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, according to court filings on Wednesday in the State of Minnesota vs. Noem.

On the other side, federal officials filed supplemental arguments against the TRO/injunction. Among their arguments, the feds lay out a scenario where a state were to legalize cocaine trafficking, thus requiring a DEA surge. Also, the feds deny that AG Pam Bondi's demands for voter roll data, among other things, in the letter to Walz on Jan. 24 was "quid pro quo."

8:07 a.m. - Frey traveling to DC to demand ICE leave MN

According to an update from the City of Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey is traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors "where he will meet with mayors and federal lawmakers from across the country to advocate for an end to Operation Metro Surge and other unlawful ICE operations. During the visit, Mayor Frey will also participate in national discussions focused on how cities can work together to keep communities safe while upholding the rule of law."

7:51 a.m. - How many ICE agents in Minnesota? 

When asked how many federal agents are in Minnesota, Border Czar Tom Homan said there have been a lot of rotations but did not provide a specific number.

Court records show there were more than 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota, including ICE and Border Patrol officers, earlier this week. Homan said on Thursday they're working on a drawdown plan of federal agents but that depends on cooperation with state and local officials.

At a Thursday news conference, Homan doubled down on the need for local jails to alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement to people in their custody who ICE can remove from the country. Homan said that means that fewer agents have to actually be out on the streets looking for people.

He acknowledged that immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota haven’t been perfect but was adamant that the administration isn’t surrendering.

7:48 a.m. - Homan: Who ICE is prioritizing detaining in MN

Homan said they are prioritizing criminal aliens, public safety threats and national security threats, stressing that if you come into the United States illegally "you're never off the table."

7:40 a.m. - Withdrawal of feds depends on cooperation, Homan said

White House Border Czar Tom Homan said the withdrawal of federal law enforcement in Minnesota depends on cooperation with state and local officials in Minnesota. 

"As we see cooperation happen, then the redeployment will happen," Homan said, noting targeted operations make ICE operations safer. 

7:19 a.m. - ICE operations update by Tom Homan: Progress made in Minneapolis

White House Border Czar Tom Homan arrived on Monday after President Trump asked him to deploy to Minnesota, he said during his first briefing in Minneapolis, noting, "We've made a lot of progress in the last few days." 

He says he came here to "Regain law and order" and to work to remove threats from the community. He met with Gov. Walz, local leaders, local sheriffs and police chiefs, and he has more people to meet with. 

"We didn't agree on everything," Homan said about meetings with state and local leaders. "You can't fix problems if you don't have discussions … I came here to seek solutions."

In the meetings, they did agree that community safety is paramount and to not release public safety risks back into the community. Homan stressed the Minnesota Department of Corrections has been honoring ICE detainers. Homan said Attorney General Keith Ellison "has clarified for me that county jails may notify ICE of the release dates of criminal public safety risks so I can take custody upon the release from the jail."

Homan said he's made "great progress" with the attorney general and local sheriffs, noting when they have agreements it takes fewer federal agents to do the job. And as a result, there would be fewer agents on the street and allow Homan to draw down the number of agents on the streets in Minnesota. 

Homan said they're working on a drawdown plan based on cooperation with local officials and the number of people left to find. But they will stay until the problems are gone. 

Homan said they will conduct "targeted" enforcement operations, saying when they hit the streets they know exactly who they're looking for. Homan said ICE and CBP officers are performing their duties in a "challenging" environment but are trying to do it with professionalism. And if they don't, they "will be dealt with." 

"President Trump wants this fixed, and I'm going to fix this," Homan said. 

The withdrawal of federal law enforcement in Minnesota depends on cooperation in Minnesota, Homan said.

5:45 a.m. - Border Czar Tom Homan to give first update

White House Border Czar Tom Homan is scheduled to hold a press conference at 7 a.m. on Thursday. 

He recently took over ICE operations in Minnesota from Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. 

Homan has met with state and local officials since his arrival earlier this week, including Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her.

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