Texas Governor Greg Abbott has urged the Trump administration to 'recalibrate' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), warning that the agency is losing respect following the fatal shooting of a nurse in Minneapolis. Speaking on Monday, Abbott said ICE should 'get back to what they wanted to do to begin with, and that is to remove people from the country who are here illegally.'
Abbott's comments come as Republican lawmakers express growing concern over the crisis in Minnesota, where ICE agents shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti during anti-ICE protests on Saturday. The governor criticised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for 'inciting violence' with their anti-ICE rhetoric, adding that the situation reflects a 'lack of leadership.'
President Donald Trump has sidelined Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and placed ICE veteran Tom Homan in charge of the operation in Minnesota. Trump reportedly expressed concerns about Noem's public messaging after she labelled Pretti a 'domestic terrorist.' Riots erupted on Sunday night outside a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis believed to house ICE agents, with protesters smashing windows and spray-painting the facade.
Several Republican allies have called for a full investigation into Pretti's shooting. Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska urged a 'prioritized, transparent investigation,' while Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt described the shooting as a 'real tragedy' and pressed Trump to define an 'end game.' Representative James Comer of Kentucky suggested the administration focus immigration efforts elsewhere, arguing that local law enforcement is not cooperating.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a frequent opponent of Trump's immigration crackdown, likened Pretti's shooting to murder, stating that the operations represent 'a complete failure of coordination.' The incident has intensified debate over federal immigration enforcement, with some Republicans urging Trump to pull ICE out of Minnesota entirely.
