Trump signals review of Minneapolis ICE operation after second fatal shooting
After the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti during protests in Minneapolis, Donald Trump said the federal government is reviewing the city’s immigration enforcement operation and hinted it could be changed or scaled back, while senior officials publicly disputed earlier claims about domestic terrorism.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said the federal government is reviewing the immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis after a second fatal shooting tied to confrontations involving federal agents, an episode that has fueled mass protests and sharpened political pressure across party lines.
The latest death involved Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, who was shot during a confrontation as protests surged against a broader immigration crackdown. The incident drew scrutiny after competing accounts circulated about whether Pretti posed a violent threat, prompting calls for clarity about rules of engagement, oversight, and the chain of command within the operation.
In comments reported Monday, Trump avoided directly defending the shooting and suggested federal officials were examining the entire Minneapolis posture. He implied the operation could change and raised the possibility that federal agents might eventually leave the city, though he offered no timeline and did not describe what a revised plan would look like.
Political fallout intensified as senior officials sent mixed signals about how the administration views the confrontation. A Trump administration official contradicted earlier language used by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying Pretti’s actions did not meet the legal definition of domestic terrorism — a public split that suggested internal disagreement over messaging and legal exposure.
The Minneapolis shooting also became a flashpoint for broader fights over federal power, civil liberties, and immigration tactics. Critics argued the city was being treated as a proving ground for aggressive enforcement, while supporters said officials were responding to escalating unrest and threats to federal personnel.
Trump also said he had a positive conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, but it remained unclear whether state officials would gain any leverage over federal operations. Meanwhile, lawmakers and advocacy groups continued pressing for investigations, and national media focused on whether the operation will trigger leadership changes or congressional action.
Even as federal officials weighed next steps, Minneapolis residents prepared for more demonstrations. The political challenge for the White House is balancing a crackdown narrative with the risks of prolonged unrest — and answering the central question protesters keep raising: who is accountable when enforcement encounters turn deadly?