In Minneapolis, President Donald Trump’s border chief, Tom Homan, announced on Thursday that the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota will not be reduced until state officials fully cooperate. He emphasized a “zero tolerance” policy toward any protests that obstruct or harm his officers.

This statement marked Homan’s first public comments since being dispatched to Minneapolis by the president following a controversial incident where a federal immigration officer shot a protester fatally over the weekend.

Homan reiterated the importance of local jails notifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about individuals in their custody who are eligible for deportation. He argued that transferring these individuals to ICE while they remain in jail enhances safety for officers and reduces the necessity of carrying out arrests on the streets.

“Provide us with access to illegal aliens and public safety threats within the secure environment of a jail,” Homan stated, underscoring the administration’s stance.

While admitting that immigration enforcement in Minnesota has faced challenges, Homan firmly rejected the notion of abandoning their objectives. He stressed that the administration remains committed to its enforcement goals despite any setbacks.

Homan also seemed to suggest a renewed focus on what ICE calls “targeted operations” designed to focus their efforts on apprehending immigrants who have committed crimes. He said they would conduct “targeted strategic enforcement operations” prioritizing “public safety threats.”

He said he has “zero tolerance” for those who assault or impede law enforcement, referring to the protesters who have flooded the city’s streets as “agitators.”

Homan did not give a specific timeline for how long he would stay in Minnesota.

“I’m staying until the problem’s gone,” he said, adding that he has met elected officials and law enforcement leaders across the city and state, seeking to find common ground and suggested that he’s made some progress.

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Santana reported from Washington.