Trump Signals Potential ICE Withdrawal from Minneapolis After Fatal Protest Shooting
US President Donald Trump has indicated a possible withdrawal of federal immigration enforcement agents from Minneapolis, following the controversial fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti during a weekend protest. The incident has ignited violent demonstrations across multiple major American cities and exposed deep political fractures over immigration enforcement tactics.
Controversial Shooting Sparks Nationwide Unrest
Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse employed at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, was shot dead on Saturday during a protest against the administration's immigration crackdown in the city. His death triggered immediate and violent demonstrations that quickly spread to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Armed individuals were observed on the streets alongside protesters holding signs demanding 'Justice for Alex' and calling to 'abolish ICE'.
President Trump declined to explicitly state whether the federal officer who fatally shot Pretti had acted appropriately, telling the Wall Street Journal that the administration was 'reviewing everything' about the incident. 'We're looking, we're reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,' he stated. However, the president hinted at a willingness to eventually withdraw immigration enforcement officials from the Minneapolis area, remarking, 'At some point we will leave. We've done, they've done a phenomenal job.'
Conflicting Accounts and Political Fallout
Lawmakers remain sharply divided over the shooting, which occurred just weeks after another US citizen, 37-year-old Renee Good, was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in the same city. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti was shot in self-defence because he was 'brandishing' a gun, but emerging video footage appears to contradict this account, showing officers disarming him before multiple shots were fired.
The Trump administration has controversially labelled Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist' shot by a federal officer in self-defence. This characterisation has been vehemently disputed by eyewitnesses, local officials, and Pretti's family. Two eyewitnesses—a woman who filmed the incident from close proximity and a physician watching from a nearby apartment—provided sworn testimony asserting that Pretti was not brandishing any weapon at any point during the encounter.
Family Outrage and National Reactions
After seeing administration officials suggest their son was a 'domestic terrorist', Pretti's family issued a powerful written statement expressing both heartbreak and anger. 'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,' the family declared. They maintained that videos clearly show Pretti was not holding a gun when tackled by federal agents, but was instead holding his phone with one hand while using the other to shield a woman being pepper-sprayed.
The family pleaded, 'Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.' They described Pretti as a lawful gun owner with no criminal record beyond traffic violations, who cared deeply about people and was profoundly upset by ICE's activities in Minneapolis and across the United States.
High-Profile Condemnation and Calls for Investigation
Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton both condemned the shooting in strong terms. Obama called the incident a 'heartbreaking tragedy' and a 'wake-up call' regarding the assault on core national values. Clinton described the shooting as 'unacceptable' and accused those in charge of lying to the public.
Even typically pro-Trump organisations have joined calls for a thorough investigation. The National Rifle Association, usually aligned with the president, issued a statement urging a 'full investigation' into the killing and cautioning against 'demonising law-abiding citizens' before all facts are established.
Local Leadership Demands Federal Withdrawal
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has explicitly called for ICE agents to leave the state, demanding, 'How many more residents, how many more Americans, need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?' Governor Tim Walz has strongly disputed the federal government's account of the shooting, stating, 'I've seen the video from several angles and it's sickening.' He accused the Department of Homeland Security of spreading 'nonsense' and 'lies' about the incident.
In response, President Trump has called on Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and 'EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor in the United States of America' to cooperate with his administration's immigration enforcement efforts rather than resist them. The president's comments come amid an ongoing crackdown in Minneapolis that began in December following fraud convictions involving some Somali immigrants in state welfare programmes. Minnesota hosts the largest Somali immigrant community in the United States, adding further complexity to the already tense situation.
