Minneapolis – Key Republicans in the Trump management are retreating from their blanket defense of Border Patrol agents who fatally shot a U.S. citizen Saturday on a Minneapolis street, part of a larger effort by the White House to turn down the temperature after the killing provoked widespread outrage.
But it remains unclear whether the tamping down of Republican rhetoric is just damage control after the shooting, or whether it will usher in a more fundamental scaling back of President Trump’s hard-line immigration crackdown in American cities from Los Angeles to Chicago.
In Minneapolis, there were few signs of a reduction in force on the streets, where tensions have been high since the shooting.
On Wednesday morning, protesters gathered outside the federal Whipple Building, the epicenter of immigration activity in the city, as a steady stream of federal agents entered and exited.
“Traitor!” one woman yelled out to a car driven by masked agents.
“Murderers!” a man said.
As Richi Mead, dressed in a neon vest that labeled him as a peaceful observer (“DON’T SHOOT”), tracked federal vehicles coming in and out, he said he did not believe there had been a reduction in the number of federal immigration agents in his city. The rate of cars he saw Wednesday, he said, was “business as usual.”
“They’ve entrenched themselves here,” he said of federal agents. “There’s no end to this – and there’s no end to Minnesotans showing up.”
As a growing number of Republicans have joined Democrats to protest Alex Pretti’s killing and Homeland security Secretary Kristi Noem faces increasing criticism, Trump has expressed a desire to “de-escalate a little bit.”
Senior officials - such as Stephen miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor – have backtracked on their initial defense of the federal agents who fired the fatal shots.
Just a few hours after Border Patrol agents shot the 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse Saturday in Minneapolis, Miller said on X: “An assassin tried to murder federal agents.”
But that statement, along with others made by Noem, were contradicted by cellphone videos showing Pretti was holding a phone, not a gun, when federal agents shoved him to the ground and shot him.
On Tuesday, Miller issued a statement to CNN acknowledging that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents may have deviated from protocol before the fatal shooting. The White House had provided “clear guidance” to the Department of Homeland Security on how to handle protesters, or “disruptors,” Miller said.
“We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol,” Miller said.
A White House spokesperson said that Miller was referring to general guidance given to Immigration and Customs Enforcement that extra personnel sent to Minnesota for force protection ”should be used … to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disruptors.”
Officials will examine why additional force-protection assets may not have been present to support the operation, the spokesperson said.
On Wednesday,a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson disclosed that two border Patrol agents involved in the shooting had been placed on administrative leave Saturday.
But top Republicans in the White House have yet to announce any major rollback of their aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
Kevin R. Johnson, a professor who specializes in immigration law at UC Davis, said it was too early to determine whether senior trump officials are rethinking federal tactics or whether the shooting of Pretti will lead the president to scale back his immigration age
Okay, here’s a breakdown of the key information and themes presented in the article, organized for clarity:
1. The Situation: Increased Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis & Backlash
* Context: The article focuses on the fallout from the shooting of Fong Lee by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Minneapolis, and the subsequent increased immigration enforcement activity in the area.
* Increased Enforcement: ICE has been conducting aggressive operations in Minneapolis, leading to fear and disruption within communities. There are reports of agents conducting roving patrols and attempting to detain individuals.
* Protests & Arrests: Demonstrations have occurred in response to the enforcement actions. Pam Bondi (visiting from out of state) announced 16 arrests, labeling those arrested as “rioters” charged with offenses against law enforcement.She signaled more arrests were expected.
* Community Fear: Neighborhood groups are using encrypted chats to share information about potential ICE activity, indicating a climate of fear and distrust. There’s a specific instance mentioned of agents perhaps trapping someone in their home while seeking documentation.
2. Political & Administrative Response (and Skepticism)
* initial Harsh Rhetoric: Initially, Trump administration officials (Miller, Noem, Homan) used strong, potentially inflammatory language regarding the situation.
* Apparent “Cooling Down”: There’s a perceived slight shift in tone, with some officials (Miller, Noem) appearing to dial back their rhetoric regarding the shooting. A meeting between Tom Homan (border policy advisor) and Minnesota officials (Gov. Walz, Mayor Frey) is seen as a positive, albeit small, step.
* Skepticism about Change: Many sources express deep skepticism that these actions represent a genuine change in policy.
* Lucas Guttentag (Stanford Law Professor): Views the shift as a “tactical retreat” – a response to public outcry, but not a fundamental change in the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement (detention, racial profiling).
* Johnson (likely a legal advocate/expert): Believes the rhetoric from the top influences aggressive tactics on the ground.He calls for withdrawing ICE officers and improved training, specifically addressing racial profiling.
* Christine Hebl (local resident): Sees the changes as a “PR stunt” and anticipates continued or even worsened enforcement. She notes the enforcement is expanding into the suburbs.
* Personnel Change: The potential ousting of Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and replacement with Tom Homan is viewed with doubt. Homan is described as “relatively aggressive” and unlikely to be a true peacemaker.
3. Key Concerns & criticisms
* Aggressive Tactics: The article highlights concerns about the aggressive tactics used by ICE officers, potentially including illegal actions.
* Racial Profiling: The ”roving patrols” targeting people based on skin color are specifically criticized as “terrorizing communities.”
* Lack of Communication: Johnson emphasizes the need for communication and discussion between federal authorities and local leaders.
* Policy vs. Tactics: The core argument is that while there might be a slight adjustment in tactics (tone, meetings), the underlying policies of aggressive immigration enforcement remain unchanged.
In essence, the article paints a picture of a tense situation where a community is fearful of increased immigration enforcement, and while there are signs of a potential attempt to de-escalate the situation, there is widespread doubt that this represents a meaningful change in the administration’s approach.
