Trump Promises De-escalation in Minnesota After Fatal Immigration Shootings

Mon Feb 02 2026 16:12:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the aftermath of two fatal shootings involving immigration officers, President Trump announced a strategy to de-escalate federal operations in Minnesota, amid public protests and legislative scrutiny.

Following the recent fatalities of Renee Good and Alex Pretti due to federal immigration officers, President Trump has stated intentions to de-escalate federal presence in Minnesota. These incidents have spurred protests and bipartisan calls for scrutiny, with Trump acknowledging the tragic nature of the shootings while defending his administration's previous immigration policies.

President Donald Trump has announced that the federal government will de-escalate a little bit in Minnesota, following the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers. In an interview with Fox News, he condemned the incidents as terrible, referencing the recent deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were both killed by immigration officials.

Renee Good was shot earlier this month, while Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was killed during a border enforcement operation over the past weekend. Pretti's death provoked significant public uproar, leading to protests and criticism from lawmakers. Trump's remarks reflect an acknowledgment of the current tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the state.

The Department of Homeland Security responded by removing the mission leader from Minnesota and deploying Tom Homan to the area to meet with local officials. In a statement on social media, Homan confirmed discussions with Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey about the situation.

Trump characterized Pretti's death as a very unfortunate incident but refrained from agreeing with claims that Pretti was a domestic terrorist. He expressed the belief that Pretti should not have been armed at the time of the confrontation. Discrepancies have arisen over Pretti's actions during the incident, with some officials labeling him a threat, while witnesses have contested the justification for the shooting.

The public outcry has prompted calls for the administration to reassess the deployment of approximately 3,000 immigration agents in Minnesota. Trump defended the enforcement operations by asserting that they have significantly reduced crime rates since the implementation of the immigration policies.

Movement towards transparency has also begun, with some lawmakers calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Pretti's death while a federal judge has ordered that no evidence be altered or destroyed. Trump, amidst a rally emphasizing his economic policies, maintained a narrative supporting the immigration initiatives aimed at deporting criminals but limited his focus on the situation in Minnesota.