While Minnesotans Rejoice Over Greg Bovino’s Ouster, His Replacement Is a Deportation Hard-Liner

Protesters outside Greg Bovino's hotel on his last day as a U.S. Border Patrol commander in Minnesota, gathered to bid him farewell in the most chaotic manner possible. Despite the departure of a controversial figure, the replacement is raising concerns about the continuation of policies and tactics that have been widely criticized.

The new head of Operation Metro Surge, Tom Homan, has a record of being a deportation hard-liner. Under former President Barack Obama, he oversaw a program that led to over 3 million deportations, with many being without criminal convictions. His work as the head of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) was marked by an aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, including the expansion of Secure Communities.

Homan's leadership style has been described as authoritarian, and his comments have been seen as threats to those who challenge the status quo. In a recent interview with Fox News, he warned that people who film or follow ICE operations would be arrested and put in a database. This approach has sparked widespread criticism and resistance from communities across the country.

The Intercept's coverage of Homan's arrival in Minnesota suggests that there is little evidence to suggest a shift in policy or tactics. Instead, it appears to be a matter of crisis management, with many viewing his appointment as an attempt to cover up the Trump administration's assault on democracy.

As the news landscape continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: the fight for press freedom and democratic values is far from over. The Intercept is committed to providing in-depth coverage of these issues, but we need your support to continue this critical work. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?

I'm getting really worried about what's going on with our immigration policies and the new head of Operation Metro Surge... Tom Homan has a super questionable record when it comes to deportations, like over 3 million people without even being convicted of crimes! And that authoritarian leadership style is just, like, so not what we need in our communities. I'm all for keeping our borders safe, but not at the expense of press freedom and democratic values... The fact that he's warning people who film ICE operations will be arrested is just, like, so concerning! We need to make sure we're holding those in power accountable for their actions. Can't we find a way to balance security with compassion and understanding?

I'm really worried about Tom Homan taking over as head of Operation Metro Surge... his track record on immigration enforcement is super concerning to me. I have a kid who's a college student and they're always going to be at risk of getting caught up in these kinds of situations because of their own identity. The idea that people filming or following ICE ops could get arrested and put on a database just gives me the chills... it's like we're living in some kind of dystopian movie where our own government is against us. As a parent, I want to know that my child can trust the system to have their backs, not that they'll be torn apart by people who are supposed to protect them. We need to keep pushing for change and protecting our most vulnerable citizens. Can we do better?

I'm thinking that whoever replaces Greg Bovino's gotta have a plan that doesn't involve scaring everyone half to death... The new guy, Tom Homan, sounds like he's from the old school of "tough on immigration" . It's like they're trying to keep things status quo instead of really making changes for good. We need someone who's gonna listen to all sides and make a difference, not just stoke up more fear and anger...

I just can't believe how fast we're moving towards a crisis situation ... like, Tom Homan is literally getting appointed as the head of Operation Metro Surge without any concrete changes to policies or tactics . And those comments he made about filming ICE ops being a crime? That's just insane . The Intercept is doing a great job of exposing this, but it's disheartening to think that some people might not be able to report on these issues without fear of getting in trouble .

You know what really got me thinking though - the whole thing with Greg Bovino leaving and Tom Homan taking over. Like, is this a case of just swapping one controversy for another? I don't think we're seeing enough transparency about the real reasons behind these changes... we need more accountability in government .

I'm all for supporting The Intercept's reporting efforts - we do need strong journalists holding our leaders accountable, especially when it comes to issues like press freedom and immigration . But at the same time, I think it's really important that we're not just blindly accepting new leadership without questioning whether there are changes coming down the pipeline .

So yeah... what's your take on this? Do you think The Intercept is doing enough to hold our leaders accountable, or is there more work to be done?

I'm kinda worried about what's going down with Tom Homan taking over as the new head of Operation Metro Surge ... I mean, have you seen his track record on immigration enforcement? Like, 3 million deportations under Obama is a whole lotta people affected by policies that many people disagree with. And now he's warning people who film ICE ops to be arrested and put in a database? That sounds super scary to me ... but at the same time, I guess you have to give him credit for being clear about his intentions, even if they're not exactly what most people want to hear . What I do hope is that The Intercept continues to shine a light on these issues and keep pushing for truth and transparency ... we need more journalists like them who are willing to tackle the tough stuff!

I was just thinking about how much I love trying new foods while traveling , and it got me thinking, have you guys tried those amazing Korean BBQ spots in Seoul? I went there last year with my friends and we had an absolute blast! The food, the culture, the people... everything was just so vibrant and exciting! Anyway, back to this news... I'm really worried about the implications of Homan's appointment. It feels like we're taking two steps forward and one step back when it comes to human rights and press freedom

This whole thing is super sus, if u ask me... I mean, one guy's outta there and another's straight in... like what's the diff, right? They're both enforcing policies that are making life super hard for a lot of ppl. And now this new dude Tom Homan's got a rep for being super strict about immigration... I'm low-key worried about what's gonna happen next

this whole thing reeks of a power struggle and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. Tom Homan's appointment is a red flag, and I'm seriously concerned about the implications for Operation Metro Surge. The fact that he's been labeled an authoritarian with a history of deportation hard-lining sends shivers down my spine. This isn't just about policies; it's about the erosion of trust between law enforcement and communities. We need journalists like The Intercept holding these institutions accountable, but it's disheartening to see the lack of transparency around Homan's arrival in Minnesota.

I'm not sure if changing one person at the top is gonna make a difference, dude . It sounds like Tom Homan's got the same vibe as Greg Bovino, just with a different badge . We need real reform here, not just a new face in charge . Can't we focus on supporting our local communities and organizations that are already working to create positive change? Maybe instead of protesting against Homan's appointment, let's try to uplift the people who are doing good work in this space?

I'm not feeling super optimistic about this new guy Tom Homan taking over as head of Operation Metro Surge . I mean, his record on deportation is pretty concerning - like, over 3 million people without even having a criminal conviction . That's just crazy talk. And now he's talking tough on press freedom, warning people who film or follow ICE ops that they'll be arrested and put in a database . That's a major red flag, if you ask me. It sounds like more of the same old, aggressive tactics that have been criticized by so many . We need some real change around here, not just a new face at the helm .

just saw this on my newsfeed and I'm so worried about what's going down with Tom Homan taking over as head of Operation Metro Surge he sounds super authoritarian and it's like they're trying to stifle free speech by threatening people who film or follow ICE ops that's totally not okay meanwhile, protesters are still dealing with the aftermath of Greg Bovino's departure I hope The Intercept is able to keep exposing these issues and pushing for real change can we really trust them though? it feels like they're just trying to cover their own tracks

This new development in Minnesota has me thinking... the fact that Tom Homan is taking over as head of Operation Metro Surge despite his record as a deportation hard-liner raises serious concerns. I mean, have we learned nothing from the past? His authoritarian leadership style and comments about filming or following ICE ops being treated like crimes seem to be a step back in terms of progress towards a more inclusive and just immigration system.

It's also worrying that the Intercept is highlighting a potential attempt by the new administration to cover up their previous assaults on democracy. As a netizen, I believe it's crucial for us to hold our leaders accountable and support organizations like the Intercept that provide in-depth coverage of these issues. But we need to be vigilant and not just rely on one source – we need to stay informed and critically think about what we're reading

Ugh, I'm still reeling from the news about Tom Homan taking over as head of Operation Metro Surge . His record on deportations is super concerning - all those people without criminal convictions being kicked out? That's just not right. And his comments about filming or following ICE ops getting you arrested are literally chilling . I'm worried that he's going to bring in more authoritarian policies and stifle press freedom even further . We need to keep holding our leaders accountable and supporting outlets like The Intercept that do real investigative journalism . Can we really count on people like us to help them expand their reporting capacity?

I don't know about this new guy Tom Homan . His past record sounds pretty shady and I'm worried he's gonna bring back all that tension and fear-mongering . The fact that people are already speaking out against him is a good sign, but we need to stay vigilant and hold our leaders accountable . It's not cool when they try to silence whistleblowers or journalists who are just doing their job . We gotta support the media outlets like The Intercept that keep pushing for truth and transparency in these times

just another chapter in the never-ending saga of who's behind the wheel and what that means for the people . Tom Homan, new kid on the block, and his history screams ' business as usual' . Secure Communities, anyone? Still got that stinkin' database waiting to snatch up some unsuspecting protesters. Not impressed by his 'crisis management' spin . Democracy is still a work in progress, y'all

aww man this guy Tom Homan sounds like he's gonna make things worse for people already struggling with immigration issues... i feel so bad for the communities who are still dealing with the aftermath of the Trump admin's policies and it's crazy that they're trying to cover up their tracks by having him take over as head of Operation Metro Surge like, can't we just try to find a way to make things better instead of digging in further? we need more support for press freedom and holding those in power accountable for their actions