President Donald Trump has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to send federal agents to protests in Democratic-led cities unless local authorities request help. This comes amid backlash over aggressive immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, including the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti. The move coincides with negotiations over short-term DHS funding as Democrats push for restrictions on agent operations.
President Donald Trump clarified on Saturday that federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not intervene in protests or riots in Democratic-led cities without an explicit request from local leaders. Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Florida, Trump emphasized, "If they want help, they have to ask for it. Because if we go in, all they do is complain." He added that such requests must include saying "please," while criticizing Democratic cities for "always complaining."
This directive follows intense public opposition to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, particularly in Minnesota's Twin Cities. Federal agents fatally shot two individuals in Minneapolis: Renee Good on January 7 and ICU nurse Alex Pretti on January 24. These incidents have sparked nationwide protests, with thousands taking to the streets demanding an end to what critics call unconstitutional tactics. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul have filed a lawsuit challenging the enforcement surge, arguing it violates constitutional protections. A federal judge declined to halt operations as the case proceeds, dismissing the suit as "legally frivolous" according to Justice Department lawyers.
Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, who was sent to Minneapolis after the shootings, suggested reducing the number of immigration officers if state and local officials cooperate. The president indicated he would discuss the situation with Homan and Noem on Sunday and expressed support for agents wearing body cameras, stating, "I think it would help law enforcement but I'd have to talk to them... overall, I think it's 80% in favor of law enforcement."
Meanwhile, funding for DHS remains contentious amid a partial government shutdown. The House is set to consider a compromise spending package passed by the Senate on Friday, providing only two weeks of funding to allow negotiations. Democrats seek to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by ending roving patrols, requiring agents to identify themselves and use judicial warrants, and aligning use-of-force rules with local standards. Trump has not dismissed these proposals outright, noting they would be discussed, though some Republicans oppose them as a return to prior policies. A recent court order by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery mandated the release of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father from a Texas detention center, criticizing the use of administrative warrants and deportation quotas for traumatizing families.
