It was a chaotic start to 2026, with federal agents surging through the Twin Cities, being stalked by activists and protesters, and with clashes frequently between the two. There were two people shot and killed by federal agents, and another man shot in the leg.
Operation Metro Surge, largely under the direction of then Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem, and Border Patrol Commandeer Greg Bovino, seemed like a powder keg, and in too many cases resulted in violent encounters.
That drew the attention of the White House, and President Donald Trump, who instead put White House border czar Tom Homan in the Twin Cities, removed Noem and Bovino, both of whom are now removed from their positions. Bovino is now retired.
Homan now tells CBS News that Operation Metro Surge was in need of change when he took over the reigns earlier this year, saying "things weren't perfect", particularly having several chains of command for that type of large scale operation.
"And I said on the stage my first time, I didn't go up there looking for photo ops," Homan explains. "I didn't go up there looking for TV cameras. I went up there to fix a problem because President Trump sent me there to fix that problem. And we fixed it. And as I sat up there, we're going to do smarter enforcement. Smarter enforcement don't mean less enforcement."
Homan also told CBS News, he belies the ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents involved in the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good should face consequences, including termination, if any wrongdoing is found.
Still, Homan thinks three different chains of command was largely to blame for the chaotic operation, which he had never seen for an operation as large as this one.
"Things weren't perfect. We addressed it. We fixed it, and I think things that we learned," Homan added. "I certainly have a close relationship with the ICE director, and he understands what we found and what we changed and what we improved upon. And that's where we're moving forward."
In early March, Noem was removed as Secretary, and replaced by Oklahoma GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin. The plan for that department, and the Trump administration according to Homan?
"And I've had the discussions with Sec. Markwayne Mullin," Homan told CBS. "He agrees we can have mass deportations, but do it in a smarter way. Which we're doing."
As for the investigations into the agents who killed Pretti and Good, Homan said he did not want to comment further, adding that government investigations are ongoing.
There is controversy in that investigation, as the federal government is solely in control of the necessary information to fully investigate the shootings. Local and state investigators have been prohibited from accessing much of it.
Homan spoke to CBS News and said the officers that shot Alex Pretti and Renee Good are still under investigation
Homan spoke to CBS News and said the officers that shot Alex Pretti and Renee Good are still under investigation
