The other day an incident that happened at the Douglas County Courthouse proves that what’s been going on in Minneapolis was never about illegal immigration.  It’s about fear, intimidation, attacking a political enemy, and a distraction from the Epstein Files.

Last Monday ICE agents peacefully apprehended four men accused of being in our country without the proper documentation.  These men appeared at the courthouse to respond to charges unrelated to their immigration status. The ICE agents wore plain clothes.  They didn’t have masks or military gear.  There were no pepper spray or chemical weapons used. They didn’t make a big scene and harass other bystanders in the courtroom who were going about their business. 

These ICE agents had warrants and quietly got the job done without making a scene.  It probably wouldn’t have even made the news if we weren’t so focused on the tragedies we’re seeing in the Land of a Thousand Lakes. Just last week ICE agents arrested another immigrant at the courthouse, and it got little to no attention. 

No, Minneapolis was never about getting the worst of the worst off the streets. It was about Trump’s retribution against Tim Walz for having the audacity to run against him in the last election.  This was about making sure he wouldn’t be able to run again in 2028. 

Minneapolis was never about illegal immigration.  It was about stoking fear. Fear is a great motivator.  Fear worked to Trump’s benefit in the last election.  His campaign got many voters afraid of immigrants killing their sons and raping their daughters. They convinced voters in the swing states that only Trump could stop transgender people from using the wrong bathroom or cutting off their penises just so they could play girls sports. 

Fear worked for him in the past so why not continue with the same playbook? 

But you can only cry wolf so many times.  

After the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, even voters who supported Trump became fearful of an authoritarian government. Second Amendment supporters became fearful of how Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem blamed Alex Pretti for having a legal handgun.  First Amendment supporters became fearful of the way their right to peacefully assemble was being attacked. And decent moral voters are angry the Epstein Files have yet to be released. 

And while tens of thousands braved the Minnesota cold to protest the Trump administration, the Trump administration is starting to become fearful of the voters. 

That’s why they are dialing back their activities in Minnesota.  Greg Bovino the military uniform wearing head of the Border Patrol has been replaced by the business suit wearing Tom Homan. Homen is the former acting head of ICE and the current Border Czar. 

Homan has served under the Obama and first Trump administrations.  While he is a tough talking opponent of Sanctuary Cities and illegal immigration, he is more prone to using legal tactics versus military tactics to deal with the immigration problem.

Legal tactics like the ones used last Monday at the courthouse.  

During my talk radio days, I interviewed many Republican candidates running for the House and Senate.  When I would ask them about legislation to streamline the immigration process or codify DACA into law their standard answer was that they couldn’t do anything until the border was secure. 

So now the border is secure.  Where is the legislation to change the laws to allow those who want to live and work in this country in peace?  Where is the legislation to let the Dreamers know they belong?  Were those Representatives just blowing smoke?  Did they ever have any intention of fixing our immigration problems or are they afraid of losing that wedge issue?

Fear is a great motivator and it’s motivating citizens to get off their butts and speak out about an abusive Federal Government.  People that were complacent are starting to be afraid their complacency is tearing families apart and getting people killed. 

Americans have two options.  We can cower and hide and hope they don’t start coming after us, or we can be there for our fellow man and refuse to live in fear and speak out against this oppressive government.

The midterms will be here before you know it.  We need to make sure people aren’t afraid to vote and the elections run smoothly and fairly.  And if we put enough pressure on our elected officials maybe, just maybe we can change some laws so that so many good people won’t have to live in fear. 

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.