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, leading to criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump's remarks indicate 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 announced it would be deploying the White House's border czar, Tom Homan, to take over in Minnesota, with Homan set to meet local officials this week. On Tuesday, Homan posted on social media about his discussions with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Speaking to reporters before a rally in Iowa, Trump characterized Pretti's death as 'a very unfortunate incident'. When asked if he agreed with the characterization of Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist,' Trump stated, 'I haven't heard that.' He added, 'He shouldn't have been carrying a gun.'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti was shot for 'brandishing' a gun, while local authorities maintain that he was shot after the firearm was removed. Eyewitnesses have challenged the official account, stating that Pretti was holding a phone, not a weapon.
DHS has claimed the agents fired in self-defense after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him.
Pretti's shooting, occurring two weeks after Good's death, has caused outrage among local residents, leading to renewed calls for the Trump administration to withdraw its immigration agents from Minnesota.
In the Fox News interview, Trump defended the Minnesota operation, stating that it has removed 'thousands of hardened criminals' from the state, contributing to improved crime statistics.
'That's all working out, we have Tom Homan there now,' he emphasized, reiterating the decision to 'de-escalate'.
Stephen Miller, a top aide on the deportation initiative, noted that the White House has instructed DHS to use personnel in Minnesota for fugitive operations, to create barriers between arrest teams and potential disruptors.
Some Republican leaders have called for an investigation into Pretti's death, with Vermont Governor Phil Scott and US Senator Pete Ricketts advocating for transparency. Ricketts stated, 'The nation witnessed a horrifying situation this weekend,' emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
A federal judge has blocked DHS from destroying or altering evidence related to the incident.
At a rally in Iowa, Trump spoke broadly about his immigration policies, citing support for deportations among Americans, without delving deeper into the Minnesota situation.
