Protesters gather outside a Minneapolis hotel to bid farewell to Greg Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol commander who has been removed from his post amidst civil unrest and allegations of human rights abuses. In a scene that evokes images of a dystopian future, protesters bang on pots and pans, shout into megaphones, and blow their orange emergency whistles as they confront a group of off-duty agents, some of whom are seen taunting them with obscene gestures.
The protests are sparked by the actions of federal immigration agents who have been operating in Minnesota for the past two months, leaving behind a trail of violence, constitutional violations, and civil rights abuses. The most recent incident involves the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot dead while attempting to help a woman who had been shoved by immigration agents.
Bovino's removal from his post comes amidst growing national outrage over the Trump administration's policies on immigration. While some have hailed his departure as a victory for human rights, others are skeptical that it will bring about meaningful change. As one expert noted, "All that we know at this moment is that they're swapping out personnel. That doesn't tell us anything about policies."
The new commander, Tom Homan, has a reputation for being a hardliner on immigration. A former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homan has been accused of embracing the "worst first" mantra, which prioritizes deporting those who are deemed most threatening to national security. His track record suggests that he will continue to enforce strict immigration policies, which have been criticized for their impact on vulnerable communities.
Despite the claims from Trump's administration that Homan will bring a more professional approach to policing, critics argue that his presence is likely to exacerbate tensions and further militarize federal law enforcement agencies. As one activist noted, "We're seeing an increase in overtly militarized tactics, and we're not sure what Tom Homan's role will be in addressing these concerns."
The Intercept has reported extensively on the Trump administration's assault on immigration policies, which have been widely criticized for their impact on marginalized communities. The agency's efforts to create a "post-truth America" have been characterized as an attack on press freedom and a threat to democratic values.
In this context, Homan's appointment raises serious concerns about the future of immigration enforcement in Minnesota and beyond. As one critic noted, "The most notable difference between Homan and Bovino is that Homan has deported a lot more people...It seems to be a matter of crisis management more than anything."
The protests are sparked by the actions of federal immigration agents who have been operating in Minnesota for the past two months, leaving behind a trail of violence, constitutional violations, and civil rights abuses. The most recent incident involves the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot dead while attempting to help a woman who had been shoved by immigration agents.
Bovino's removal from his post comes amidst growing national outrage over the Trump administration's policies on immigration. While some have hailed his departure as a victory for human rights, others are skeptical that it will bring about meaningful change. As one expert noted, "All that we know at this moment is that they're swapping out personnel. That doesn't tell us anything about policies."
The new commander, Tom Homan, has a reputation for being a hardliner on immigration. A former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homan has been accused of embracing the "worst first" mantra, which prioritizes deporting those who are deemed most threatening to national security. His track record suggests that he will continue to enforce strict immigration policies, which have been criticized for their impact on vulnerable communities.
Despite the claims from Trump's administration that Homan will bring a more professional approach to policing, critics argue that his presence is likely to exacerbate tensions and further militarize federal law enforcement agencies. As one activist noted, "We're seeing an increase in overtly militarized tactics, and we're not sure what Tom Homan's role will be in addressing these concerns."
The Intercept has reported extensively on the Trump administration's assault on immigration policies, which have been widely criticized for their impact on marginalized communities. The agency's efforts to create a "post-truth America" have been characterized as an attack on press freedom and a threat to democratic values.
In this context, Homan's appointment raises serious concerns about the future of immigration enforcement in Minnesota and beyond. As one critic noted, "The most notable difference between Homan and Bovino is that Homan has deported a lot more people...It seems to be a matter of crisis management more than anything."
what's going on here?! So they're replacing Greg Bovino with Tom Homan who's like, super strict on immigration policies? Like, I get it, some ppl are worried about national security but come on! 
Deporting people left & right is not the answer. And what's up with the militarization of federal law enforcement agencies? It feels like they're setting us up for a dystopian nightmare 
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We need real policy changes, not just shuffling around the deck chairs. And btw, what's with Trump's "post-truth America" thing? It sounds like they're trying to erode our democratic values and press freedom. 
he's got a rep for bein super hard on immigration & deporting ppl left & right, it's like, super concerning tbh 
the fact that they're tryna downplay this by sayin he'll bring a more professional approach to policing lol like that's not gonna happen 
we need to keep callin out these policies for what they are: straight up attacks on marginalized communities 
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but what's going on here is that the system is still broken and we need real change 
not just a rearrangement of personnel 
. Homan's track record speaks for itself, he's all about enforcement over compassion 
and that's not what we need in our immigration policies 
Those policies are still there, so I don't see how it's gonna change much. 
The fact that they're bringing in someone with such a hardline stance on immigration is just scary. 
It's like they're trying to create an army of deportation machines rather than actually addressing the issues at hand. And don't even get me started on the lack of accountability – if Homan is just gonna keep perpetuating the same policies that are harming communities, what's the point of having a new commander? 
Can't believe what's happening with our country's immigration policies 
. It's like they're trying to create a dystopian future where law enforcement agencies are more about intimidating people than helping them 
. I'm worried about the new commander, Tom Homan, he seems like someone who'll just sweep the problems under the rug instead of actually addressing them 
. What's next? More militarized tactics and less concern for human rights? 
This is why we need to educate ourselves on these issues and stay vigilant 
. The fact that these immigration agents have been leaving a trail of violence and civil rights abuses in their wake is totally unacceptable 
His track record is super concerning, especially with the "worst first" mantra and all 
it feels like they're just trying to justify their own power by pushing these radical policies and then blaming everyone else when things go wrong.
where they're sayin goodbye to Greg Bovino, the new border patrol commander 
, but can't we just hav a calm convo about it? 
?
. I'm all for enforcing immigration laws and keeping people safe, but can't we do it in a way that actually respects human rights and doesn't target vulnerable communities? 
This isn't just about one person or another; it's about creating a system that values human rights and dignity above all else. We need to do better, folks!