White House shifts tone after second deadly incident
President Donald Trump said his administration would “de-escalate a little bit” its operations in Minnesota following the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers in the state this month. The comments came amid mounting public protests, bipartisan criticism from lawmakers, and growing scrutiny of the Department of Homeland Security’s actions.
Speaking in a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Trump described the incidents as “terrible,” referring to the deaths of Renee Good in early January and Alex Pretti, who was killed during a stop by border agents over the weekend. Pretti’s death, in particular, reignited demonstrations across Minnesota and beyond, intensifying pressure on the administration to reconsider its approach.
Conflicting accounts fuel controversy
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially characterized Pretti as a violent threat, alleging he was “brandishing” a gun and engaging in domestic terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security said agents fired in self-defence after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him.
However, local authorities and eyewitnesses have challenged that narrative. Officials said Pretti’s firearm was legally registered and that he was shot after it had been removed. Some witnesses reported he was holding a phone, not a weapon, at the time of the shooting.
A preliminary Customs and Border Protection report appears to further complicate the official account. According to a copy reviewed by US media, the report notes that two agents fired their weapons but does not state that Pretti was reaching for his gun.
Federal response and leadership changes
In response to the controversy, DHS removed Gregory Bovino, the leader of the Minnesota operation, from the state. The White House dispatched border tsar Tom Homan to assume control of operations. Homan confirmed he has since met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and local law enforcement leaders.
Trump defended the broader immigration crackdown, claiming the operation removed “thousands of hardened criminals” and improved crime statistics. Still, he acknowledged the need to scale back tensions in Minnesota, stating that de-escalation was now underway.
Calls for investigation and accountability
Pretti’s death, coming just weeks after the killing of Renee Good, has intensified calls from state and city officials to withdraw roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents from the region. Several Republican leaders have also demanded a transparent investigation, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts.
A federal judge has ordered DHS to preserve all evidence related to the incident, blocking any alteration or destruction of records. Meanwhile, White House officials said they are reviewing whether federal agents followed proper protocols during the Minnesota operations.
While Trump avoided detailed discussion of the shootings during a rally in Iowa later Tuesday, he reiterated support for his administration’s immigration policies, citing polling that suggests strong public backing for deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.