Trump sends border czar Homan to Minnesota amid protests and welfare fraud probe
WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is sending Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, praising him as "tough but fair" as violent protests plague Minneapolis after two deadly shootings in a matter of weeks.
"I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president also mentioned the ongoing investigation into the "20 billion dollar, plus, welfare fraud that has taken place in Minnesota," adding it is "at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets."
An investigation into alleged welfare fraud in Minnesota helped prompt Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort that brought thousands of ICE and DHS agents into the state. The expanded federal presence sparked protests and unrest among residents opposed to the operation.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on social media that Homan "will be managing ICE operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens."
"In addition, Tom will coordinate with those leading investigations into the massive, widespread fraud that has resulted in billions of taxpayer dollars being stolen from law-abiding citizens in Minnesota," Leavitt continued.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised Trump for the decision to send Homan to Minneapolis and said his "experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off of the streets."
Trump also mentioned the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Congress are looking at the Somali-born Rep. Ilhan Omar, "who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 million dollars. Time will tell all."
House Republicans announced on Jan. 17 that they were opening an investigation into the Minnesota lawmaker amid her "skyrocketing family wealth."
