Dr. Scott Jensen to Newsmax: Minneapolis Fed Pullback Shows Cooperation

The Trump administration's decision to withdraw more than 700 federal officers from Minnesota is a sign that long-stalled cooperation among federal, state, and local leaders is taking hold, Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen told Newsmax on Thursday.

"I think what we're seeing is a combination of leadership, cooperation, communication," Jensen said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early." "This is exactly what was needed to happen."

Border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday that roughly a quarter of the federal officers deployed to Minnesota would be pulled out after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants to federal authorities.

Jensen credited President Donald Trump's immigration priorities, saying the administration's objectives were clear long before the current developments.

"What the objectives were identified by President Trump a year and a half ago during the election was we are going to provide a strong southern, secure border, and we're going to remove bad actors," Jensen said. "And I think Mr. Homan identified that that's happened."

Jensen said the breakthrough came after direct communication between federal officials and Minnesota leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

"He's had a chance to communicate with Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, and he's identified unprecedented cooperation," Jensen said. "So this is exactly what I think Minnesotans want."

Asked how local leaders are responding to the troop reduction, Jensen said many feel relieved after months of tension.

"I think there's a sigh of relief," he said. "I feel like there's a lot of leaders, particularly in the business community, that felt like Tim Walz was digging his heels in and was perhaps a little bit more focused on legacy building than he was trying to solve real problems."

Jensen also acknowledged criticism surrounding immigration enforcement tactics and said communities are eager to move forward.

"I think there's just a sigh of relief saying, can we get back to orderly business and leaders that communicate and collaborate?" he said.

He warned that prolonged conflict over immigration enforcement has had lasting consequences across the state.

"I think there's a tremendous concern about the long-term impact on our economy and restaurants closing and businesses closing, and neighborhoods and churches and community groups being fractured," Jensen said. "And hopefully, we can repair that."

Jensen also weighed in on Trump's recent remarks suggesting a "softer touch" on immigration enforcement, while still prioritizing the removal of violent criminals.

"I'm really not [surprised]," Jensen said. "A few weeks ago, President Trump talked about the need to recalibrate, and I think that's what he's doing."

While supporting enforcement against violent offenders, Jensen said the next step should focus on long-term residents and Dreamers.

"I'm hoping that the next step that we see from President Trump and our leaders is trying to find a solution for the illegal immigrants who have been here a long time and who are contributing to our society," Jensen said. "But also the Dreamers, those who have never known a country other than America as their home and yet are not citizens."

"There's got to be fairness," he added, "but we also have to recognize the reality that there are many powerful players in the immigrant community that are doing jobs and work that need to be done, and will not get done without them."

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