Trump Administration Intensifies Immigration Enforcement Amid Backlash Over Minneapolis Shooting

The Trump administration has publicly doubled down on hardline immigration enforcement after a federal agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, an episode that has exposed fault lines within the president’s coalition and stirred nationwide debate.

Senior administration officials appeared across Sunday morning broadcasts and social media to defend the federal agent’s actions and justify increased immigration operations, while also blaming Democratic state and local leaders for hampering enforcement and escalating tensions. President Donald Trump targeted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in social posts accusing “Democrat Run Sanctuary Cities And States” of refusing to cooperate with ICE and encouraging obstruction of federal operations.

When asked whether he supported the Border Patrol agent who shot Pretti, Trump said investigators were reviewing the case and did not directly answer whether the shooting was justified. He also suggested federal law enforcement could eventually withdraw from Minnesota, saying, “At some point we will leave,” but gave no timeline.

Federal agents gather amid tear gas during scuffles at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on January 24. - Tim Evans/Reuters

Political and Departmental Responses

Some Republican lawmakers and governors expressed unease about maintaining a large ICE and Border Patrol presence in Minnesota if state and local leaders will not cooperate. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) suggested the administration could move operations if federal agents are placed at risk, while Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt questioned the administration’s endgame and warned against heavy-handed federal intervention without clear objectives.

Within the Department of Homeland Security, officials expressed frustration with public comments from prominent conservative figures, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who publicly blamed Pretti for interfering with federal officers. DHS staff circulated video of the incident and said some of the public remarks risked harming the department’s reputation and complicating the investigation. “The department needs a law enforcement leader, not a sycophant,” one DHS official told CNN.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, DC, on January 24. - Al Drago/Getty Images

CNN reported that the available video footage does not show protesters engaging in clear acts of violence nor capture Pretti brandishing a firearm; footage shows a handgun removed from his waistband seconds before the fatal shots. Minneapolis officials said Pretti was a registered gun owner.

Federal Posture and Reinforcements

Despite the controversy, the White House said it will maintain its current posture and send additional federal resources to Minneapolis. Attorney General Pam Bondi said agencies including the DEA, ATF and FBI were assisting to keep citizens safe. A senior White House official told CNN the administration would not change policy based on local cooperation and accused Democrats of inflating rhetoric.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on January 20. - Win McNamee/Getty Images

Administration spokespeople also argued that similar federal operations in other jurisdictions, such as Texas, have not produced comparable unrest because of stronger local cooperation. They cited examples of some Democratic mayors who reportedly worked with federal authorities to avoid chaos.

Voices Urging Restraint

Other allies urged officials to exercise caution when commenting publicly about the shooting. Media figures and some Republicans criticized televised rhetoric that focused on peripheral details like magazine counts or whether protesters were armed, calling such remarks premature pending a full investigation.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a news conference in Blaine, Minnesota, on January 25. - Abbie Parr/AP

The administration also faced criticism from the National Rifle Association after US Attorney Bill Essayli posted comments suggesting approaching law enforcement with a gun makes being shot more likely; the NRA described the remarks as “dangerous and wrong” and urged restraint until investigations conclude.

Broader Political Fallout

The incident has the potential to affect budget negotiations: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would block a government spending bill unless the DHS appropriations package included reforms to rein in ICE, increasing the risk of a partial shutdown ahead of a funding deadline.

Attorney General Pam Bondi also sent a letter to Gov. Walz urging the repeal of so-called sanctuary policies and the sharing of certain state data with federal investigators as a possible way to reduce federal intervention. Minnesota Democrats and the DNC criticized the letter as politically motivated and raised concerns about data-sharing proposals.

Meanwhile, the White House continued with scheduled events. On Saturday evening the president hosted a private screening of the first lady’s documentary in the East Room; on Sunday the press office issued a press lid and the president posted strongly worded comments about an unrelated legal dispute.

Reporters Veronica Stracqualursi, Aleena Fayaz and Kit Maher contributed to this report.