Trump says administration ‘reviewing everything’ after shooting of Alex Pretti.

Minneapolis, MN – In the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by immigration agents on Saturday in Minneapolis, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that his administration is "reviewing everything." The President’s comments, made in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, also suggested a potential withdrawal of federal agents from the city, though no specific timeline was provided. The incident, which marks the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in recent weeks, has intensified protests in Minneapolis and across the nation, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz warning that the country stands at an "inflection point."

The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death have become a focal point of contention, creating a fresh confrontation between state and federal authorities. While Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the actions of the agent involved, asserting that Pretti was "brandishing" a weapon, local authorities have disputed this account. They contend that the firearm was legally registered and that Pretti was shot after the weapon had been secured. When pressed by The Wall Street Journal on whether the agent acted appropriately, President Trump responded, "We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination." He further expressed his aversion to any shooting, stating, "I don’t like any shooting. I don’t like it." However, he also qualified his remarks by noting, "But I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest and he’s got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn’t play good either."

The Trump administration is facing mounting pressure from prominent Republicans, who have joined Democrats in calling for a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Senator Bill Cassidy advocated for a probe involving both federal and state officials. Congressman James Comer, an ally of President Trump, suggested that the President should consider redeploying immigration agents from Minneapolis, arguing that local and state leadership were endangering them and increasing the risk of further civilian casualties. President Trump, in his interview, indicated that the federal presence would eventually be withdrawn, praising the agents’ work as "phenomenal."

Vigils for Alex Pretti were held throughout the weekend in Minneapolis, drawing a diverse crowd of mourners and protesters. Pege Miller, a 69-year-old lifelong resident, voiced her frustration and disbelief. "I’m tired of protesting," she told the BBC. "We can’t comprehend how this is happening. Why are we letting this happen?" Demonstrators, spanning all age groups, chanted slogans such as "No more Minnesota nice – Minneapolis on strike" and "ICE out now" as they marched through the city streets. One participant, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed his disillusionment, stating, "This is not the America I fought for." The wave of protests has extended to other major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In a significant show of solidarity, over 60 chief executives of Minnesota-based businesses, including major corporations like 3M, Best Buy, and Target, signed an open letter urging an "immediate de-escalation of tensions" and calling for collaborative solutions between local and federal officials.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara revealed to the BBC that federal agents had obstructed state officers from accessing the scene of Pretti’s shooting, despite the latter having secured a search warrant. O’Hara highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Minnesota law enforcement agencies and federal authorities, emphasizing that the current situation was jeopardizing their ability to conduct ongoing investigations. The shooting has exacerbated the division among lawmakers regarding gun rights, particularly the Second Amendment right to bear arms, which is legally protected in Minnesota for those with a permit. The administration has framed its operations in Minneapolis as a public safety initiative aimed at deporting individuals residing in the U.S. illegally, with Pretti himself being labeled a "domestic terrorist." Critics, however, have raised concerns that the crackdown is also leading to the detention of migrants without criminal records and U.S. citizens. Pretti’s family issued a scathing response to the administration’s characterization, calling the statements "sickening lies" and "reprehensible and disgusting." They affirmed that their son had no criminal record beyond minor traffic violations and was a "good man." Governor Tim Walz articulated a broader concern about the political climate, stating on Sunday, "I don’t care if you are conservative and you are flying a Donald Trump flag, you’re a libertarian, don’t tread on me, you’re a Democratic Socialist of America. This is an inflection point, America. If we cannot all agree that the smearing of an American citizen and besmirching everything they stood for and asking us not to believe what we saw, I don’t know what else to tell you."

The backlash against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics is intensifying, even within the Republican party. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commented to CNN that voters are increasingly concerned about "federal tactics and accountability" as they witness such incidents on television. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy described the Minneapolis shooting as "incredibly disturbing" and stated that "the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake." In response, Democrats have threatened to block a crucial government financing package if it includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security, raising the specter of another government shutdown. Former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have both condemned the events in Minneapolis, with Clinton describing them as "horrible scenes" that he "never thought would take place in America."

Few Minnesotans interviewed by the BBC expressed support for ICE operations, although national polls indicate that roughly half of voters nationwide approve of President Trump’s deportation efforts. Voter sentiment is more divided on the specific methods employed in the crackdown. President Trump, via a Truth Social post, demanded that Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and all Democratic governors and mayors "formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence." He also called for Congress to abolish "sanctuary cities," which he blames for the escalating problems. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously accused Governor Walz of desiring chaos and encouraging "left-wing agitators to stalk and record federal officers in the middle of lawful operations."

Videos emerging after the shooting show a scuffle between Border Patrol agents and Pretti shortly before the fatal incident. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintained that agents fired in self-defense after Pretti, who they allege was armed, resisted their attempts to disarm him. However, eyewitnesses, local officials, and Pretti’s family have contested this narrative, with some asserting he was holding a phone, not a weapon. Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara reiterated to the BBC that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with no criminal record beyond traffic violations. Even the National Rifle Association (NRA), typically aligned with President Trump, joined other gun lobby groups in calling for a "full investigation" into Pretti’s killing, urging responsible public discourse and cautioning against generalizations and the demonization of law-abiding citizens. U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino had stated that ICE agents were searching for Jose Huerta Chuma, who has a criminal history including domestic assault, during a "targeted" operation. However, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) has refuted these claims, stating Huerta had no record of custody within the state and that public records indicated only misdemeanor traffic offenses from over a decade ago.

The latest shooting follows weeks of heightened tensions between Minnesota authorities, federal agents, and protesters who have been observing and documenting the agents’ anti-immigration raids. Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident participating in such an observation. The law firm representing Good’s family urged Americans to "trust their own eyes as they interpret the horrific video" of Pretti’s shooting. President Trump’s crackdown in Minneapolis was initiated in December following convictions of some Somali immigrants for large-scale welfare fraud. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali immigrant community in the U.S. ICE agents possess the authority to detain and arrest individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.