Story perspectives

Border Czar: Security Force Remains Amid Immigration Backlash

2/16/2026

Center

Homan Maintains Security

Tom Homan, White House border czar, said security force will stay in Minnesota after immigration enforcement surge.
More than 1,000 immigration agents have left the Twin Cities, with hundreds to depart.
The security force will respond to threats when agents are surrounded by protesters.
Operation faced criticism after two United States citizens were killed by federal officers.
Homan said mass deportations will continue across the country despite Minnesota drawdown.

Right

Homan Defends Masks

Tom Homan defended masks for ICE officers, citing a rise in assaults.
Reports show a 1,500% rise in assaults and 8,000% in violent threats.
Democrats demand unmasking ICE agents as a condition for supporting DHS funding.
The Justice Department prosecutes threats against ICE personnel, including a case of a man soliciting violence on social media.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned ICE's actions as rogue and excessively violent.

History

Historical Context

Operation Wetback, initiated in June 1954 under President Eisenhower, aimed to deport over 1.1 million undocumented Mexican immigrants, employing military-style tactics. This operation arose from public hysteria over immigration and mirrored earlier deportation campaigns during the Great Depression. Today, similar aggressive immigration enforcement strategies, including mass deportations, continue to spark debates on immigration reform and the treatment of migrants in the U.S.

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Homan Maintains Security

Tom Homan, White House border czar, said security force will stay in Minnesota after immigration enforcement surge.
More than 1,000 immigration agents have left the Twin Cities, with hundreds to depart.
The security force will respond to threats when agents are surrounded by protesters.
Operation faced criticism after two United States citizens were killed by federal officers.
Homan said mass deportations will continue across the country despite Minnesota drawdown.

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