ICE Officers in Minnesota Ordered to Avoid ‘Agitators,’ Shift to Targeted Arrests

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers operating in Minnesota have been directed to avoid engaging with “agitators” and to focus solely on targeted arrests of immigrants with a criminal history, according to internal guidance reviewed by Reuters.

The updated guidance, issued via email from Marcos Charles, the top official in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, instructs officers that all enforcement targets must have a “criminal nexus,” including prior arrests or convictions. The directive marks a shift away from broader enforcement sweeps that have drawn public backlash and legal challenges in recent months.

Under the new orders, ICE officers are permitted to run license plate checks and may make an arrest if the registered vehicle owner is an immigrant with a criminal history. However, Border Patrol agents will now serve only a support role in Minnesota operations, reversing earlier strategies that placed them on the front lines.

The guidance also instructs officers to use megaphones to issue commands and to “verbalize every step of the arrest process.” At the same time, officers are explicitly ordered not to communicate or engage with protesters or agitators, stating that such interactions only escalate tensions.

“DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” the email reads. “The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.”

The operational shift follows two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during protests involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this month. In both cases, Trump administration officials initially described the deceased as aggressors, though video evidence later raised questions about those claims.

President Donald Trump said this week that he wanted to “de-escalate” tensions in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He tasked border czar Tom Homan with taking over immigration operations in Minnesota, signaling a move toward a more “targeted” enforcement approach, according to a senior administration official.

As part of the shakeup, Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino—who led aggressive enforcement operations in several major U.S. cities—was demoted and is expected to retire soon.

The guidance also notes increased cooperation from Minnesota state and local authorities, creating more opportunities for ICE to arrest immigrants released on parole or probation.

The White House said the guidance is not yet final. “There are ongoing conversations on how to most effectively conduct operations in Minnesota,” an administration official said. “No guidance should be considered final until it is officially issued.”