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Trump signals shift in Minnesota operations
President Donald Trump announced plans to reduce tensions in Minnesota following two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in recent weeks. Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Trump described both incidents as "terrible" and confirmed his administration would "de-escalate a little bit" in the state.
Timeline of fatal encounters
The first shooting occurred in early January when Renee Good was killed by an immigration officer. The second incident unfolded this past weekend when Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans' hospital, died after being stopped by border agents. Pretti's death triggered renewed protests and bipartisan criticism of federal operations in Minnesota.
Conflicting accounts emerge
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially stated Pretti was "brandishing" a gun and "perpetuating violence," labeling his actions as "domestic terrorism." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed agents fired in self-defense after Pretti resisted disarmament.
However, eyewitnesses and local officials disputed this version, asserting Pretti held a phone, not a weapon. Authorities confirmed Pretti legally owned the firearm, which was reportedly removed before he was shot. A preliminary Customs and Border Protection report, obtained by CBS News, contradicts the DHS narrative, stating two agents fired at Pretti without mentioning him reaching for his gun.
Leadership shake-up and local backlash
DHS removed Gregory Bovino, the Minnesota mission's leader, on Monday and deployed White House border tsar Tom Homan to oversee operations. Homan met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and local law enforcement on Tuesday.
Pretti's death, following Good's killing two weeks earlier, intensified calls from state and city officials to withdraw the 3,000 federal immigration agents stationed in the region. Trump defended the operation in his Fox News interview, citing crime reductions but acknowledged the need for de-escalation.
White House directives and political fallout
Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide, told CNN the administration had instructed DHS to use additional personnel for "fugitive operations" to separate arrest teams from protesters. Miller stated the White House was investigating why Customs and Border Patrol agents may have deviated from this protocol.
Republican leaders, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, demanded a transparent investigation into Pretti's death. Ricketts called the incident "horrifying" while reaffirming support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding. A federal judge has barred DHS from destroying or altering evidence related to the shooting.
Trump focuses on broader immigration crackdown
During a Tuesday night rally in Iowa, Trump avoided detailed discussion of the Minnesota situation but emphasized his administration's broader immigration policies. He cited a December Harvard Harris poll indicating 80% of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records.
"He shouldn't have been carrying a gun."
President Donald Trump, on Alex Pretti
