Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan on Feb. 12 announced that the immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis that included assaults on protesters, unlawful break-ins of homes, arrests of U.S. citizens and two killings by federal agents is ending. Homan said the withdrawal of the approximately 2,000 federal agents still in Minneapolis has begun and would continue into next week.
Holman’s announcement came as current funding for the Department of Homeland Security was expected to run out on Feb. 13 and lead to a shutdown of the department. Republican leaders sent their members home after there was no genuine progress toward a deal that Democrats are demanding to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following what has gone on in Minneapolis and other cities.
State Sen. Shelley Mayer who represents the 37th State Senate District, which covers a large portion of Westchester County, including White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Rye, and surrounding communities, was one of the few elected officials to react to Homan’s withdrawal announcement.
“Today’s announcement that the federal government will begin withdrawing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from Minnesota is a meaningful step toward healing and restoring public trust in our communities. But it is not a moment for celebration. Their presence has created incredible pain and disruption,” Mayer said.”Too many families are left with empty seats at their tables, whether their loved ones lost their lives – like the families of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti – or their loved ones are still being held in detention facilities, or they have been deported to countries they may not know without due process. Children cowered in fear, and families were traumatized.
“However, this moment does prove that peaceful protest and unity can actually make change happen, and reduce the threats to our democracy and the rule of law that were present during this long siege. Minnesotans stood in freezing temperatures, and Americans stood in solidarity with them, demanding ICE withdraw from Minnesota. Their voices were so powerful, and finally their voices were heard.
“Though ICE will withdraw, we know its presence will continue in communities across our nation, and we cannot look away. We must remain vigilant and steadfast in our commitment to humane and reasonable immigration policies that uphold public safety, protect individual dignity, and honor the rule of law.
“I am a proud patriot. I believe our nation is strongest when we uphold our democratic principles, honor the rule of law, and act with humanity and compassion. I believe in professional, accountable policing that strengthens and protects public safety in our very diverse nation of immigrants. This chapter may be ending, but the fight to preserve Constitutional principles and the rule of law is not over.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York posted a brief statement on the internet.
“Democrats have said it from the start: We need legislation to rein in ICE and end the violence,” Schumer said. “Without legislation, what Tom Homan says today could be reversed tomorrow on a whim from Donald Trump. We will not support a DHS bill that perpetuates the status quo and permits masked secret police to barge into people’s homes without warrants.”
