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Clay Masters and Gretchen Brown
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Klobuchar: White House official said federal agents in Minnesota near 'original footprint,' contradicting Noem's claim

Federal agents take part in an immigration enforcement operation
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joins federal agents for an immigration enforcement operation along Payne Avenue in St. Paul. This is a still image from a video posted to social media by DHS on Jan. 6.
Department of Homeland Security

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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she was told by a top White House official that federal immigration agents are at or near their “original footprint” in Minnesota, contradicting a claim from the departing Homeland Security secretary.

In front of Congress earlier this week, Secretary Kristi Noem said 650 agents, far above the original number, remained in the state.

Klobuchar said Thursday that White House official Tom Homan called the senator to clarify Noem’s estimation was incorrect.

“He said they were, in fact, at their original footprint in terms of the ICE agents, and that they were either there or soon headed there, which was a bit over 100,” Klobuchar told MPR News. “He then said there were additional people, federal agents, there working on fraud investigations.”

Homan has not been precise when describing the number of agents typically stationed in Minnesota. He has described the “original footprint” as around 150 officers.

In the conversation with MPR News host Clay Masters, Klobuchar said Homan “has been straightforward with me and others.”

President Donald Trump fired Kristi Noem from her position Thursday. Klobuchar told MPR Noem’s departure was “good news.”

Klobuchar said she will still seek written clarification from Noem, and her successor, on the number of federal agents in the state.

Press play above to listen to Klobuchar’s conversation with Masters.

Correction (March 6, 2026): An earlier version of this story cited a figure for the “original footprint” of federal agents in Minnesota, which was not a part of the interview with the senator. The story has been updated.