Tom Homan's role as border czar explained as Trump sends him to Minnesota

Tom Homan, Donald Trump's 'border czar,' has been sent to Minnesota as pressure mounts for a full inquiry into the shooting of Alex Pretti.

Intensive care nurse Pretti was shot and killed on Sunday (January 23) by a federal agent as demonstrations continued against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents fired in self-defence, claiming Pretti was carrying a handgun at the time and was resisting attempts to disarm him.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later said Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. His family have also denied the claims made by the DHS, saying Pretti was carrying a phone in his hand at the time, not a gun.

In a statement to Kare11, Pretti’s father and mother said Trump's administration was peddling 'sickening lies'.

Calls have since been made for a full inquiry to be opened into the incident.

37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed on January 24 (CBS Minnesota/Micheal Pretti)

In response, Trump sent former ICE director Homan to the city - a move he claims Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is 'happy' about, in a new Truth Social post.

But who exactly is Homan, and what is a 'border czar'?

What is a border czar?

Days after winning the 2024 election, Trump announced Homan would be appointed to the role under the Trump administration.

Explaining what that meant in a Truth Social post, he said: "I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders (“The Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security."

Trump appointed Tom Homan as Border Czar (Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

He added: "I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders.

"Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job."

The role doesn't require Senate confirmation, so it's meant to cut across multiple government agencies to speed up decision-making; however, that lack of oversight is also why it's often controversial.

Who is Tom Homan?

Tom Homan (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Homan has decades of experience in law enforcement, having begun his career as a New York state police officer and then spending time with US immigration authorities, including as a border patrol agent and supervisor.

In 2013, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to lead enforcement and removal operations at ICE and in 2017, Trump made him acting director of ICE, a position he held until his resignation in 2018 after the Senate never voted on making him the permanent director.

After leaving government, Homan became a Fox News commentator and worked with conservative policy groups.

After the killing of Renee Good earlier in January, Homan told CBS News that he did not want to 'pre-judge' the facts but highlighted 'the brave men and women of ICE are heroes', adding that 'like all Americans, our officers have a right to self-defence'.

ICE in Minnesota: a timeline of events

Dec 2025: Trump sends thousands of ICE agents to Minneapolis

In late December 2025, with reports emerging around January 6 (the five-year anniversary of the Capitol Riots), President Donald Trump sent around 2,000 ICE agents into Minneapolis to crack down on immigration.

This was reportedly due to, more specifically, allegations of fraud aimed at Somalian residents.

Jan 7: ICE agent Jonathan Ross kills Renee Good

On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed mother-of-three Renee Good at the scene of an ICE raid in southern Minnesota. Good’s car was stopped sideways, in what is believed to have been an attempt to block ICE agents from passing.

As Good went to reverse her vehicle away from the agents, Ross shot her at least two times, once in the face. Good died at the scene.

Jan 7: Protests break out in Minneapolis

Following the killing of Renee Good, protests broke out in Minneapolis that same night. Protests are still ongoing at the time of writing (January 19), and tensions remain high in the twin cities.

Jan 12: Minnesota sues the Trump administration

On January 12, the state of Minnesota filed a motion in federal court to sue the Trump administration in an attempt to block the surge of ICE agents. Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison said immigration operations have caused ‘chaos and violence’ for millions of people and disrupted their lives.

Jan 13: ICE drags disabled woman from car

On January 13, on a street in Minnesota City, ICE agents were caught on camera dragging an unknown disabled woman from her car. This happened just two blocks from where Good was shot.

The woman shouted at the time: “I’ve been beat up by police before. I’m disabled, I’m trying to go to the doctor up there, that’s why I couldn’t move. I am an autistic disabled person, I’m trying to go to the doctor.”

The Independent reports that ‘tear gas, flash bang grenades and pepper balls were also fired towards the protesters during the stand-off’.

Jan 14: Venezuelan man shot by ICE

A Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by ICE officers on January 14 during an alleged traffic stop. It’s been reported that during the traffic stop, the officer was attacked by another individual in the car with a ‘snow shovel and broom handle’, which is allegedly why they opened fire on two individuals. The man who was shot has not yet been identified.

Jan 15: Trump threatens insurrection

Trump has not reacted well to the protests and took to Truth Social to threaten Minnesota with insurrection. On January 15, he said: “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,.”

Jan 18: 1,500 US troops on standby for deployment

On January 18, officials confirmed that 1,500 soldiers are on standby for deployment to Minneapolis. The troops are currently in Alaska, and no official word has been given to send them in as of yet.

Minnesota officials have asked protesters to stay ‘peaceful’ and ‘orderly’. This comes after Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis told ICE to ‘get the f*ck out’.

Jan 24: ICU nurse Alex Pretti shot by US Border Patrol

ICU nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by Border Patrol Agents in Minneapolis in the midst of citywide protests against Trump's immigration crackdown. He was a 37-year-old US citizen.