Former acting secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf praised President Donald Trump’s decision to send “border czar” Tom Homan to deal with unrest in Minneapolis on Monday on “The Martha McCallum Story.”
“It was a stroke of genius for the president to send Tom Homan there,” Wolf said. “I think Tom is just the right person. Why? Because he’s also been in career law enforcement, he’s an operator. He knows exactly what needs to be done out there and where to give and take – how can we win-win so that you have less violence and less chaos, but ICE can continue to accomplish their mission.”
Trump announced on Monday that he was sending Homan to Minnesota, noting that he would “report directly to me” and help lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
“Tonight I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota. He is not involved in the area but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair and will report directly to me,” Trump wrote on his Truth social platform.
White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt noted during Monday’s briefing that Homan was a key figure in coordinating cooperation between state and local authorities. She recalled that Homan was praised by The Washington Post years ago for his work under then-President Barack Obama, who awarded him the 2015 Presidential Distinguished Service Award.
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to leave Minnesota, Tom Homan to take over
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Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wald praised President Donald Trump for putting Tom Homan in charge of Minneapolis.
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Some critics see Trump’s move as a strategic top-down political shake-up, as ICE leadership faces criticism not only for its handling of the Minneapolis riots but also for the way Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke about Saturday’s shooting death of activist Alex Pretti.
Pretty, a nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown. Noem said Preti appeared to “arrive at the scene intent on inflicting maximum harm on an individual and killing law enforcement officers.”
“A U.S. Border Patrol agent was approached by a man armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Officers attempted to disarm the man, but the armed suspect reacted violently. Fearing for his life and that of other surrounding officers, one agent fired his weapon in defense,” she said.
Critics have questioned Noem’s account of the shooting. However, Levitt said Trump still trusts his Homeland Security secretary.
“We just heard from Carolyn Leavitt that the president has confidence in Kristi Noem, but as a former member of the administration, what do you think?” Fox News anchor Martha McCallum asked Wolf. “Do you think we’ll see personnel changes?”
“Of course we can,” Wolfe replied. “Look, that’s what I’m telling you. Those DHS law enforcement officers who are in ICE, CBP, they absolutely love President Trump, why? Because he supports them. He supports them. That being said, a lot of these officers, obviously, it’s their profession and what they do, the vast majority of their operations are done out of sight. They’re not on CNN and Fox and other places all day, every day, so I think they [administration officials] Always caring. ‘Have things gotten out of hand? Do we politicize what they do? Are they just enforcing the law? To them this is not politics. The law is immigration enforcement, and that’s what we’re doing. So if there’s a concern, that’s probably it. “
Levitt says Trump spoke to Walz, asked Minnesota to ‘peacefully cooperate’ with Bing: ‘Let the police be the police’
Crowds flocked to Minneapolis to protest ICE after Prettyy’s shooting.
Wolfe suggested Homan could bridge the gap between federal authorities and local law enforcement officials.
“I think it’s important to remember that ICE’s job is to apprehend illegal aliens who commit crimes, preferably in partnership with local law enforcement,” he said. “So if Tom Homan can get local law enforcement involved to assist ICE, no matter what that looks like — whether it’s protecting them as they go about their mission, whatever that is — I think that’s a win.”
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Some believe the dispatch of White House “border czar” Tom Homan to Minnesota was a top-down political shakeup amid backlash against ICE’s efforts in the state.
Original source of the article: Former Homeland Security Secretary says Trump’s choice to send ‘border czar’ Tom Homan to Minnesota was a ‘genius move’
