Federal agents have a new set of strict orders: stop arguing with the crowds screaming at you. As first reported by Reuters on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security has told Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to completely avoid interacting with protesters.
An internal email sent by a senior official warns agents that engaging with “agitators” serves no purpose other than to “inflame the situation.”
The guidance is blunt. According to Reuters, the email stated in all capital letters, “DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS.”
The message explained that no one is going to convince the other side during these heated moments, so the only talking agents should do is when they are issuing commands to a suspect. To help with this, agents are being given megaphones and are told to verbally announce every single step of an arrest.
READ: Border Czar Tom Homan Drops Surprise Update On Minnesota ICE Raids After Meeting With Walz
The memo directs them to ignore the noise and focus entirely on immigrants with criminal charges or convictions.
This shift in strategy comes after days of dangerous clashes between anti-ICE protesters and federal law enforcement. Tensions boiled over following the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, leading to riots where agents were attacked at hotels and restaurants. The new orders seem designed to lower the temperature on the streets before anyone else gets hurt.
The leaked email lines up perfectly with what Border Czar Tom Homan said publicly in Minneapolis this morning. During a press conference, Homan announced he is willing to “draw down” the massive police presence in the area if the violence stops.
READ: Vinegar Spray Attack On Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar Triggers DOJ Charges
He told reporters that the heavy deployment was only a reaction to the threats against his agents, but after productive meetings with Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, he sees a path toward a safer community without needing so much force.
Homan revealed that despite their political differences, the local leaders agreed that ICE has a job to do. A major breakthrough came when Attorney General Ellison clarified that county jails can notify ICE when a violent criminal is about to be released.
Homan argued this is the safest way to handle arrests. If agents can pick up a suspect at the jail, they don’t have to go into neighborhoods or workplaces, which protects the community and the agents.
While Homan insisted that anyone in the country illegally is still technically on the table for deportation, he emphasized that the priority is the “worst of the worst”—killers, gang members, and rapists. He wrapped up his update by defending the agents on the ground, calling them American patriots who are just trying to do a difficult job professionally.
He noted that President Trump specifically ordered that he didn’t want to see anyone die during these operations, and this new “hands-off” approach to protesters appears to be a key part of keeping that promise.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
