Stephen Miller said CBP officers involved in the Alex Pretti shooting "may not have been following" White House-directed protocol. He said the White House told DHS to use extra personnel to form physical barriers during fugitive operations and that officials are reviewing why those instructions may not have been followed. Miller's statement represents a shift in administration messaging after two recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended her remarks as given "at the direction of the president and Stephen" and has reportedly been sidelined from Minnesota operations.
Stephen Miller Acknowledges CBP May Have Broken Protocol in Alex Pretti Shooting
Top White House aide Stephen Miller said Tuesday that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers involved in the fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti "may not have been following" White House-directed protocol. The comment marks a notable change from earlier administration statements after two recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
"The White House provided clear guidance to DHS that the extra personnel that had been sent to Minnesota for force protection should be used for conducting fugitive operations to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disruptors," Miller said in a statement to CNN. "We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol."
Miller, a prominent architect of the administration's immigration agenda, has faced criticism for calling Pretti an "assassin" in the hours after the encounter. He also addressed reports linking him to Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino's claim that Pretti intended to "massacre" agents; Bovino has reportedly been removed from his post.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended her own forceful remarks, saying she spoke "at the direction of the president and Stephen." Noem has reportedly been sidelined from direct involvement in Minnesota immigration operations, with border czar Tom Homan taking a more prominent role as lawmakers from both parties press for changes.
Miller reiterated that the initial DHS statement was based on reports from CBP personnel on the ground and said officials are reviewing the matter. Multiple internal and federal reviews are expected to examine whether protocol was followed and whether early public statements accurately reflected the facts.
What Happens Next: Investigations and internal reviews will aim to clarify the sequence of events, the accuracy of public statements, and whether disciplinary or policy changes are warranted.
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