On Wednesday, ICE agents in Minnesota received new directives advising them to steer clear of “inciters” amid President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy. This internal guidance offers the clearest view yet on how operations might shift following two deadly shootings of American protesters in Minneapolis.
According to the updated guidelines, ICE agents are instructed to focus specifically on immigrants facing criminal charges or convictions, signaling a departure from previous broad enforcement tactics that have faced criticism and legal pushback in various U.S. cities.
An email from ICE officials explicitly advised agents, “Please avoid engaging with instigators. Such interactions serve no purpose other than to escalate tensions. Effective communication should be limited to issuing orders.”
An official response from the White House indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding how best to implement operations in Minnesota, emphasizing that none of the guidance should be finalized until officially announced.
This strategic change follows President Trump’s recent statements about wanting to “de-escalate” tensions in the city after federal agents were involved in the deaths of two American citizens earlier this month. Officials associated with the Trump administration quickly labeled the deceased as aggressors, a stance that video evidence appears to contradict.
In an effort to regain control, Trump has instructed Border Patrol Secretary Tom Homan to oversee activities in Minnesota. Meanwhile, senior sources noted a planned shift toward a more “targeted” enforcement strategy. Notably, Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, known for managing conflict resolution in major cities, has reportedly been demoted and will retire soon.
The email outlines that ICE officers will now be equipped with megaphones to communicate instructions to the public and are required to articulate each step taken during arrests. However, the guidelines do not clearly define what could lead to such directives or specify consequences for non-compliance.
‘Targeted’ Arrests with Enhanced Support for Operations
The new operational strategy was shared by Marcos Charles, who leads ICE’s enforcement and removal team. The officers are now being told they can only pursue immigrants with established criminal histories.
The communication emphasizes a shift toward focusing on foreign nationals who have committed crimes, including those with arrest records. All targeted individuals must have connections to specific offenses.
While under former President Joe Biden, ICE was expected to prioritize serious criminal offenders, the Trump administration changed this stance, allowing actions against non-criminals without limitations.
As per the guidelines, ICE officers have permission to check vehicle registrations for potential targets and are expected to make arrests if a vehicle is linked to an immigrant with a criminal record. The operation in Minnesota is stated to be conducted in collaboration with the Border Patrol, marking a departure from prior practices under Bovino, particularly those involving street confrontations.
Moreover, cooperation from state and local officials in Minnesota is reportedly on the rise, which could enhance ICE’s ability to apprehend immigrants who have recently been released from parole or probation.
