The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday.

But Homan did not give a timeline when the operation might end in Minnesota after weeks of turmoil in the Twin Cities and escalated protests, especially since the killing of protester Alex Pretti, the second fatal shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis.

A widespread withdrawal will only occur after people stop interfering with federal agents carrying out arrests and setting up roadblocks to impede the operations, Homan said.

The border czar has pushed for jails to alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement to inmates who could be deported, saying transferring such inmates to ICE is safer because it means fewer officers have to be out looking for people in the country illegally.

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Americans’ political anxiety stands out in new world poll

New international polling from Gallup shows that Americans are particularly anxious about politics and governance, compared to the residents of more than 100 other countries worldwide.

About one-third of Americans rated politics and government as the top issue facing their nation, behind only Taiwan — which faces the prospect of an invasion from China — and on par with Slovenia, Spain and South Korea.

Older Americans are especially likely to say politics is the country’s most important problem, while younger adults are more focused on economic issues.

Supreme Court refuses to block new California congressional districts that favor Democrats

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to Democrats in this year’s elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration.

The justices had previously allowed Texas’ Republican-friendly map to be used in 2026, despite a lower court ruling that it likely discriminates on the basis of race.

Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that it appeared both states had adopted new maps for political advantage, which the high court has previously ruled cannot be a basis for a federal lawsuit.

Republicans, joined by the administration, claimed the California map improperly relied on race, as well. But a lower court disagreed by a 2-1 vote.

The justices’ unsigned order keeps in place districts that are designed to flip up to five seats now held by Republicans, part of a tit-for-tat nationwide redistricting battle spurred by President Donald Trump, with control of Congress on the line in midterm elections.

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Vance: ‘We’re not drawing down the immigration enforcement’ in Minneapolis

In an interview with “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Vice President JD Vance said the agents being sent home were largely in Minneapolis to protect the ones who were carrying out the arrests.

Now, Vance said, many of them are no longer needed because the administration has gained the cooperation of local police.

“We’re not drawing down the immigration enforcement,” Vance. “We’re drawing down some of the federal officers that were helping the guys do immigration enforcement.”

In the same interview, Vance said he wants to deport anyone who has entered the country illegally, not just the ones with criminal convictions.

Human Rights Watch report celebrates the power of everyday people

Despite a turn away from democratic norms in Donald Trumps’ first year, the United States is still a functioning democracy, the Human Rights Watch said in a report.

“People power remains an engine for change. In the US, “No Kings” marches have drawn millions, protesters in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and around the country have stood up against the deployment of the National Guard and ICE abuses, and students are still organizing for Palestine on university campuses despite draconian crackdowns and visa revocations,” the report said.

Executive Director Philippe Bolopian said the U.S. retreat from “the global rules-based world order and the US effort to undermine the system” doesn’t mean the country is the biggest human rights violator. “The U.S. society and democratic institutions are still strong. They are under attack, but they could resist.”

He cited the free press, political opposition and a vibrant society being evidence.

“You could not say that of many, many other countries around the world,”

Bolopian said. “Almost 75% of the world population is living in autocracy.”

Human Rights Watch says middle-size countries must ban together

People around the world are fighting for their rights, from Minneapolis to people risking their lives protesting in Iran but with the U.S. seemingly going in another direction and China and Russia taking illegal actions, governments need to step up, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday.

The three countries have weakened the infrastructure of human rights.

“We think that democratic country middle powers around the world should band together,” said HRW executive director Philippe Bolopian. He said it has to be a long-term alliance built around a common respect of democracy and human rights. He cited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys speech at the World Economic Forum as a guide.

Bolopian suggested the European Union and places like South Africa, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the U.K. as other prospective members who could resist tariffs and consolidate their diplomatic power.

Trump’s first year marked by deterioration of democracy and human rights, report says

President Donald Trump’s first year in office deteriorated democracy and human rights and combined with aggressive actions by Russia and China, have wreaked havoc on human rights protections globally, according to the annual report by the Human Rights Watch.

”The U.S took significant steps backward on immigration, health, environment, labor, disability, gender, criminal justice, and freedom of speech rights, among others,” the 536-page report said.

Among the actions, it said, was the use of National Guard units in America cities and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Compounding the administration’s moves were the acquiescence of the establishment, including Congress, the report said.

“It’sactually incredible to see how the Trump Administration has really undermined all the pillars of US democracy, all the checks and balances on power,” HRW executive director Philippe Bolopian said.

The White House wasn’t immediately available for comment.

GOP senator resists plans for immigration detention center in his state

Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, is sending a letter to Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem to voice his opposition to plans that would turn a warehouse facility in a town in the northwest part of his state near Memphis into an immigration detention center.

Wicker notes that he supports “the enforcement of immigration law,” but that he is concerned the center would disrupt a site planned for “job creation, private investment, and long-term economic growth.” He also raised concerns that the local resources and infrastructure could not support a facility planned to hold over 8,500 people at a time.

Wicker’s position is some of the highest-profile pushback to the Trump administration’s plans to dramatically scale up immigration detention capacity. Local officials have been raising similar concerns across several states.

US military conducts new round of strikes on Islamic State members in Syria

The U.S. military has unleashed a new round of strikes against Islamic State members in Syria following the deadly December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement Wednesday that U.S. aircraft conducted the attacks between Jan. 27 and Monday, destroying targets that included a communication site and weapons storage facilities.

“Striking these targets demonstrates our continued focus and resolve for preventing an ISIS resurgence in Syria,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s commander.

The U.S. military said its multiple rounds of strikes since December have killed or captured more than 50 Islamic State members, including “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected” to the ambush.

Senators meet with Colombian President Petro

A bipartisan group of senators met with Colombian President Gustavo Petro to discuss ways to partner economically and address drug trafficking.

Petro’s visit to Capitol Hill comes a day after he met with President Donald Trump, and the pair emerged describing their meeting as friendly. Petro’s visit comes amid an intense focus on the Western Hemisphere by the Trump Administration.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, said the meeting revolved around ways to coordinate anti-drug trafficking efforts, as well as economic and infrastructure projects.

“I think he understands that there is a lot of potential that we could be working together,” Gallego added.

Man who tried to shoot Trump at a Florida golf course gets life in prison

A man convicted of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh’s fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts.

Prosecutors had asked for life without parole, saying Routh is unrepentant and has never apologized. A defense attorney brought in for his sentencing asked for 27 years, noting that Routh is already turning 60.

Routh also received a consecutive seven-year sentence for one of his gun convictions.

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Democrats say legislative proposals on ICE coming soon

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats aim to submit proposed legislation concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “within the next 24 hours.”

Democrats are demanding changes at ICE as part of a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Schumer said Americans are “appalled” at some of the ICE enforcement actions taking place in the country and that Democrats have “common-sense, tough objectives to rein in ICE.”

Among those, he said ICE agents should not be involved in what he called “roving patrols.” He said they also should not be allowed to engage in racial profiling or to enter certain facilities such as schools and churches.

“Finally, no secret police,” Schumer said, referring to the use of masks.

Delayed by partial government shutdown, U.S. jobs report is due next Wednesday

The Labor Department said Wednesday that it will release the January jobs report, delayed by the brief federal government shutdown, on Wednesday Feb. 11, nearly a week late.

It was originally scheduled for Friday.

Businesses, economists and policymakers rely on the numbers, which include the nation’s unemployment rate and the number of jobs created each month.

The department also said that its consumer price index — a closely watched inflation gauge — will come out Friday, Feb. 13, two days late.

Democratic Senators call Trump suit against IRS ‘shameless and transparent act of corruption’

Senate Banking leaders Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden wrote to Treasury and DOJ leadership asking for documentation related to President Trump’s lawsuit seeking $10 billion from the IRS and Treasury over leaked tax information, arguing the lawsuit reeks of “bald corruption.”

The tax leak was caused by a contractor who has pled guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison, and that the events occurred during Trump’s first administration.

The lawmakers raise ethical concerns that Trump is effectively suing agencies he oversees, which could create a conflict of interest and potential collusion and question the timing of Treasury’s decision to cancel contracts with the contractor’s employer, suggesting it may be connected to the lawsuit.

“This lawsuit is a shameless and transparent act of corruption that should make any American’s head spin,” states the letter sent to agency leadership, Wednesday.

Democrats make demands for Homeland Security funding

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is laying out four demands for continued funding of the Department of Homeland Security after a short-term patch lapses on Feb. 13.

Jeffries said Democrats are seeking mandatory cameras for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. They also believe judicial warrants must be issued by a court before Americans are taken from their homes or cars.

He also said that Democrats believe enforcement officers should not be masked in “an arbitrary and capricious fashion.”

Also, he said ICE should not be able to detain and deport American citizens, “which we know is taking place right now.”

Treasury secretary has fiery exchanges with House Democrats during committee hearing

Testifying at the House Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has had several loud exchanges with House Democrats over inflation and Trump family cryptocurrency investments.

In one instance, after a back and forth over whether tariffs cause inflation or one-time price increases, California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters told committee leadership about Bessent: “can someone shut him up?”

And in a screaming match with Democratic New York Rep. Gregory Meeks over the Abu Dhabi royal family’s purchase of roughly 49% of the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency firm last year, Meeks shouted at Bessent, “stop covering for the president. Stop being a flunky!”

Bessent is expected to appear before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday.

Russia and Ukraine envoys meet in Abu Dhabi for 2 days of US-brokered talks

Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for another round of U.S.-brokered talks on ending the almost four-year war, as a Russian attack using cluster munitions killed seven people at a market in Ukraine.

The delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were joined in the capital of the United Arab Emirates by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council chief who attended the meeting.

“The discussions were substantive and productive, focusing on concrete steps and practical solutions,” Umerov said on social media as the first of two days of talks wrapped up.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a breakthrough in the talks may not come for a while but the Trump administration has made great progress on negotiations over the past year.

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The last US-Russian nuclear pact is about to expire, ending a half-century of arms control

It’s set to expire Thursday, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century.

The termination of the New START Treaty would set the stage for what many fear could be an unconstrained nuclear arms race.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington follows suit, but President Trump has been noncommittal about extending it.

Trump has repeatedly indicated he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons and involve China in arms control talks, a White House official who was not authorized to talk publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said Monday. Trump will make a decision on nuclear arms control “on his own timeline,” the official said.

Beijing has balked at any restrictions on its smaller but growing nuclear arsenal.

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Xi also spoke Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Xi’s engagement with Trump and Putin comes as the last remaining nuclear arms pact, known as the New START treaty, between Russia and the United States is set to expire Thursday, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century.

Trump, a Republican, has indicated he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons but wants to involve China in a potential new treaty.

“I actually feel strongly that if we’re going to do it, I think China should be a member of the extension,” Trump told the New York Times last month. “China should be a part of the agreement.”

Xi emphasizes Taiwan in phone call with Trump

In his phone call with President Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said China will “never allow Taiwan to be split” from the mainland, according to the official news agency Xinhua. Xi told Trump that Taiwan is the “most important issue” in the China-U.S. relations and urged the U.S. side to handle the Taiwan issue with prudence.

China claims sovereignty over the self-governed island and vows to take it by force if necessary, though the island has never been under Beijing’s rule. The U.S. takes no side on the sovereignty issue but opposes the use of force.

The Chinese side did not mention Trump’s April visit, but Xi said both countries will be hosting important international summits this year, which in the past have provided opportunities for the leaders of the world’s two largest economies to meet one-on-one.

Rubio says the US is ‘prepared to meet’ Iran despite last minute changes to venue and format

A day after a series of conflicting reports about the location and format of U.S.-Iran talks, Rubio said Trump officials are working on maintaining a meeting this week with Iranians as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

“I think the Iranians had agreed to a certain format, for whatever reason, this change in their system or what have you. We’ll see if we can get back to the right place. But the United States is prepared to meet with them,” Rubio said.

Iranian state TV reported Wednesday that the talks would take place in Oman, not Turkey as originally planned.

Rubio says China must be part of future nuclear arms talks

Rubio said Wednesday that China needs to be part of any future talks to impose limits on nuclear weapons, noting the country’s “vast and rapidly growing stockpile.”

The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States is set to expire Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington follows suit, while Rubio reiterated President Trump’s stance that China needs to be involved in such discussions.

Trump said Wednesday that he spoke with President Xi Jinping of China, including on subjects involving the military. But Trump didn’t elaborate on whether those talks involved their countries’ nuclear arsenals.

Trump says he discussed Iran with China’s Xi as the US pushes Beijing and others to isolate Tehran

President Trump said Wednesday he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in Iran in a wide-ranging call that comes as the U.S. administration pushes Beijing and others to isolate Tehran.

Trump, who continues to weigh taking military action against Iran, announced last month in a social media post he would impose a 25% tax on imports to the United States from countries that do business with Iran.

Years of sanctions aimed at stopping Iran’s nuclear program have left the country isolated. But Tehran still did nearly $125 billion in international trade in 2024, including $32 billion with China, $28 billion with the United Arab Emirates and $17 billion with Turkey, according to the World Trade Organization.

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Rubio says Ukraine-Russia peace talks have made ‘progress’ but ‘most difficult’ items remain

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Wednesday that a breakthrough on Ukraine-Russia peace talks may not come for a while but that the Trump administration has made great progress on negotiations from this time last year.

“If you look at the checklist of open items that existed at this time last year and the checklist of open items that remain now in terms of reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, that list has been substantially diminished,” Rubio said. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that the items that remain are the most difficult ones. And meanwhile the war continues.”

Border chief Homan defends federal officers and says protests are ‘a joke’

Despite nodding to mistakes in Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, Homan is still vigorously defending federal officers and pointing fingers at protesters.

“We will hold our officers to the highest standard,” he told reporters before shifting tone.

“Considering the hate, the rhetoric, the attack, I think they performed remarkably, and I’m proud of them,” he said.

Homan urged protesters to back off.

“The message to those folks: ‘What are you doing?’” he said. “You really think you’re going to stop ICE and CBP from doing their job? It’s a joke. The only people you are hurting is your own community. ... Stop. Stop.”

During that critique, Homan did not explicitly acknowledge that ICE and Border Patrols shot and killed two U.S. citizens in January.

Homan defends Minnesota immigration enforcement even before he arrived

Trump’s border czar described improved coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement after he arrived in Minnesota to oversee Trump’s immigration crackdown.

But Homan stopped short Wednesday of criticizing operations before he arrived, despite clashes between federal authorities and Minnesota residents, including ICE and Border Patrol officers killing two U.S. citizens.

The operation under the now-deposed Gregory Bovino was “very effective as far as public safety goes,” Homan said. “Was it a perfect operation? No,” he continued, later adding, “I’m not going to sit here and point the finger at anybody” and say “they failed.”

Homan said he “brought a different set of eyes” to Minnesota at Trump’s request.

“President Trump sent me here to help de-escalate what was going on,” Homan said, without mentioning the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. “We’re not surrendering our mission. … We’re just making this more effective and more smart.”