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 explained during 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 that 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 and figurehead, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, from the state. DHS is deploying Tom Homan to take over and he was set to meet with local officials this week. Trump's administration viewed the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans' hospital, as 'a very unfortunate incident.'
The circumstances surrounding Pretti's death remain contentious, with conflicting accounts from DHS and local authorities regarding the actions leading up to the shooting. As the local community demands accountability and transparency, Trump appeared to defend past operations in Minnesota but acknowledged the need for a change in approach going forward.
Calls for investigations into Pretti's death have arisen from bipartisan leaders, concerned citizens, and former officials alike. Trump, while focusing on his broader immigration policies at a rally in Iowa, stated that he considered the situation in Minnesota but maintained confidence in his administration's policies.
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 that 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 and figurehead, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, from the state. DHS is deploying Tom Homan to take over and he was set to meet with local officials this week. Trump's administration viewed the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans' hospital, as 'a very unfortunate incident.'
The circumstances surrounding Pretti's death remain contentious, with conflicting accounts from DHS and local authorities regarding the actions leading up to the shooting. As the local community demands accountability and transparency, Trump appeared to defend past operations in Minnesota but acknowledged the need for a change in approach going forward.
Calls for investigations into Pretti's death have arisen from bipartisan leaders, concerned citizens, and former officials alike. Trump, while focusing on his broader immigration policies at a rally in Iowa, stated that he considered the situation in Minnesota but maintained confidence in his administration's policies.
