Trump to 'De-escalate' Operations in Minnesota After Immigration Shootings

Wed Jan 28 2026 21:08:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Following recent fatal shootings involving immigration officers in Minnesota, President Trump announced plans to reduce federal operations in the state amid public outcry and ongoing protests.

In response to a series of controversial shootings involving federal immigration officers in Minnesota, President Donald Trump stated that the government would 'de-escalate' its operations in the state. This decision follows the deaths of two individuals, including Alex Pretti, who was perceived by some as a victim of excessive force. The comments come amid significant public protests and calls from lawmakers for a transparent investigation into the incidents.

President Donald Trump said his administration was going to de-escalate a little bit in Minnesota, after the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers there.

Bottom line, it was terrible. Both of them were terrible, he said in a Fox News interview on Tuesday.

In early January, Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer, followed by Alex Pretti, who was killed after being stopped by border agents this past weekend.

Pretti's death reignited local protests and public outcry across the country and led to criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump's remarks are the latest sign his administration is taking a step back on its operations in Minnesota.

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pulled the Minnesota mission's leader, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, from the state. DHS said it was deploying the White House's border tsar, Tom Homan, to take over there, and Homan was set to meet with local officials this week.

Trump expressed that he viewed the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans' hospital, as a very unfortunate incident but his administration would still prioritize immigration enforcement.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti was shot because he was brandishing a gun, although local authorities maintain the weapon was registered and Pretti was shot after it was removed. Eyewitnesses have challenged this account.

The state and city officials have renewed calls for the Trump administration to withdraw its 3,000 immigration agents and officers from the region following public unrest over the shootings. GOP leaders have pushed for a thorough investigation into the events surrounding Pretti's death, enhancing the complexity of the issue for the administration.

Despite these challenges, in his speech during a rally in Iowa, Trump further defended his administration's immigration crackdown, emphasizing public backing for deportation efforts while noting that changes would be implemented in Minnesota to address community concerns.