NBC’s Kristen Welker asks ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan why the federal government is not including local Minnesota authorities on the investigation into the shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday. “Why are we in Minneapolis?” Homan said, during an interview Sunday on “Meet the Press.” “Bottom line, we are forced into the community because the governor of that state and the mayor support sanctuary cities,” he said. “They create a huge public safety trap. So if you want less officers in the street, then let us in the jail.”

TOM HOMAN: They’re arresting bad people, and it’s illegal. Let’s remember, what [Renee Good] did was a crime. It’s illegal to interfere and impede on ICE law enforcement officers. That’s why we’re there. KRISTEN WELKER: And yet, what Minneapolis officials are arguing is that the way that ICE officials are carrying out their duties may be adding to the tension. Secretary Noem labeled this an act of domestic terrorism. What’s the evidence for that allegation, Mr. Homan? TOM HOMAN: Bottom line is, again, why are we in Minneapolis? If they didn’t have the sanctuary policies they had– KRISTEN WELKER: But do you have evidence that she’s a domestic terrorist? TOM HOMAN: No. Let me finish this because this is important. [There would be] less officers in a community, if we were in the jail. Bottom line, we are forced into the community because the governor of that state and the mayor support sanctuary cities, where child rapists are released back into the community. They create a huge public safety trap. So if you want less officers in the street, then let us in the jail. KRISTEN WELKER: And I’m going to talk to Mayor Frey about the sanctuary city policies there. But I want to stay on this question, which is about the way in which the woman who was shot and killed is being labeled as a domestic terrorist. Just to be clear, is anyone who protests ICE a domestic terrorist in the eyes of the administration? TOM HOMAN: I can’t say that. You know, it’s a case-by-case basis. But, you know, if you look up the definition of terrorism, is there violence, is there a threat of violence based on an ideology that wants to change the way the government does what we do? Look on the definition of terrorism. KRISTEN WELKER: But was Secretary Noem correct to label her a domestic terrorist, Mr. Homan? TOM HOMAN: Look. We don’t know – I don’t know what Secretary Noem knows and what I know. I can tell you what they did is illegal. And if you look up this definition of terrorism, it could fall within that definition, if you look up the definition of terrorism. KRISTEN WELKER: But you don’t have evidence. TOM HOMAN: Pardon? KRISTEN WELKER: You don’t have evidence that she’s a domestic terrorist. TOM HOMAN: I don’t know what the secretary has that I don’t. I’m not going to judge what the secretary says, but if you look up the definition of terrorism, it certainly can fall within that. So I think we all have got to agree there’s no reason for this lady to do what she did. There’s no reason to be there. If you want to protest, protest. But don’t actively impede and interfere. And certainly, don’t drive a 4,000-pound vehicle toward an officer. KRISTEN WELKER: Let me ask you about the broader investigation because that’s part of what the investigation is trying to unpack, what exactly happened in the moments leading up to the incident and afterwards. State and local officials are currently being excluded from the federal investigation. The Hennepin County attorney said this on Friday. I want to get your reaction on the other side. HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MARY MORIARTY: I cannot overstate the importance of a local investment or, at least, access to the federal investigation by the BCA. Without it, we will not have the ability to be transparent with our community about the results of the expectation or, as I said, any decision that might come of the review. KRISTEN WELKER: Mr. Homan, I’ve been talking to law enforcement experts who say they have never heard of state and local officials being cut out of a federal investigation. How can the public trust the results of this investigation, if it doesn’t include state and local officials, the people who were there on the ground? TOM HOMAN: Well, first of all, this is a federal crime. KRISTEN WELKER: But it happened in Minneapolis. TOM HOMAN: It’s a federal crime and the jurisdiction clearly falls within the FBI. I’ve been doing this, since 1984. When a federal officer is involved with a shooting, the investigation goes to the FBI. It’s been that way, forever. And where were all these people? It shocks me. They have the subpoenas now. Then, they step aside and let child rapists be released from jails back in the community. They’re complicit. KRISTEN WELKER: But it’s one thing to have the FBI– TOM HOMAN: They’re complicit, why we’re in the position we are today. They’re complicit from their stance on open borders for four years. Where millions of people were released in this country, many of them public safety threats and national security threats. They are silent. They were silent when half a million children were trafficked in this country. And they lost track of 300,000 of them. KRISTEN WELKER: What you’re describing though, it’s one thing for the FBI to take the lead in an investigation. Certainly, that is something that we are used to seeing. But for state and local officials to be cut out, altogether, are you comfortable with that? Doesn’t that undercut the transparency, the sense of faith in the investigation in the eyes of the public? TOM HOMAN: First of all, that’s a question for the FBI. I’ve never worked at the DOJ. But listen, I trust that the FBI will do a thorough investigation. They’re professionals. So let them do the investigation. Let’s see the investigation. KRISTEN WELKER: Should the autopsy be made public? TOM HOMAN: That’s a question for the FBI. But I certainly will tell you that the FBI will be part of the investigation. Like I said earlier, look at the ballistics, and look at forensics, where did that fatal shot come from. All of that would be part of the investigation.

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