Trump immigration crackdown faces backlash after Minneapolis shooting; city says federal presence to scale back
The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement push in Minneapolis drew intensifying scrutiny after the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal officers. Minneapolis officials said the administration signaled a reduction in the number of federal agents starting Tuesday, as political pressure grew from local leaders, courts and lawmakers who demanded accountability and changes to tactics.
The Trump administration is confronting growing political and legal fallout after federal officers in Minneapolis fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, in an incident that fueled protests and sharpened criticism of militarized immigration enforcement in U.S. cities. The backlash has prompted talk of a partial drawdown of the federal presence, even as the broader crackdown continues. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/donald-trump-administration-reviewing-alex-pretti-shooting))
Minneapolis says agent numbers to drop starting Tuesday
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the administration would begin scaling back the number of federal agents in the city starting Tuesday, Jan. 27–28, 2026 (beginning “on Tuesday,” per the reporting). The Guardian reported that the White House tone also softened publicly, with officials describing Pretti’s death as a tragedy while backing away from earlier rhetoric. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/donald-trump-administration-reviewing-alex-pretti-shooting))
President Trump said his administration was reviewing the shooting and indicated he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, while Frey said he planned to meet with Homan to discuss next steps and argued the current deployment “needs to end.” ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/donald-trump-administration-reviewing-alex-pretti-shooting))
Courts and Congress add pressure
A federal judge heard arguments about whether to end the federal officer surge in Minneapolis, though a ruling was not expected immediately. At the same time, the episode has begun to reshape Washington’s funding and oversight fights, with Democrats signaling they could use leverage on Homeland Security funding to seek restrictions on enforcement actions. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/donald-trump-administration-reviewing-alex-pretti-shooting))
The Guardian also reported that some Republicans were pressing for more information about federal immigration tactics in Minnesota, reflecting a rare intraparty split as the administration faces bipartisan outrage and intense local resistance. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/donald-trump-administration-reviewing-alex-pretti-shooting))