Trump pressures Minnesota to cooperate with ICE after fatal shooting

2026-01-25 - 21:05

Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Minnesota's Democratic leadership to allow federal immigration authorities to operate without restrictions, issuing warnings of "worse consequences" after a fatal shooting occurred during a U.S. Border Patrol operation in Minneapolis. In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump urged state officials to "let our ICE patriots do their job," claiming that 12,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal records had already been removed from Minnesota. He cautioned that those remaining would create situations more severe than current events, directly linking the need for federal enforcement to what he described as "massive monetary fraud" under Democratic border policies. Details of the Minneapolis Incident The confrontation prompting Trump's statements involved a Border Patrol officer who shot and killed an armed individual identified as Alex Jeffery Pretti during a targeted operation. Federal officials stated Pretti was wanted for violent assault, while Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara described the victim as a 37-year-old white American citizen with only traffic violations and a valid gun permit. This discrepancy between federal and local accounts has fueled political controversy. Administration Officials Assign Blame Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi joined Trump in criticizing Minnesota's leadership, asserting that state and city officials refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Vance claimed Minneapolis leadership ignored requests for collaboration, while Bondi alleged the shooting resulted from the city's sanctuary jurisdiction policies that she said attract undocumented immigrants. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced her department would lead the shooting investigation, explicitly excluding Minnesota law enforcement due to what she characterized as Governor Tim Walz's encouragement of resistance. Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement This incident occurs amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and several states over immigration enforcement, with particular focus on allegations of fraud in publicly subsidized programs. Trump has recently defended aggressive tactics by immigration agents, acknowledging potential excessive force while arguing such measures are justified. The Minneapolis shooting has become a focal point in the ongoing national debate over sanctuary cities, federal versus local law enforcement authority, and immigration policy implementation.