The administration of United States President Donald Trump has moved to recalibrate its immigration enforcement response in Minneapolis, following the fatal shooting of a second US citizen by federal immigration officers, a development that has sparked nationwide outrage, protests, and bipartisan calls for accountability.
A senior immigration official, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, is expected to leave Minneapolis alongside several federal agents, signalling what observers in Washington describe as a possible shift in tone by the White House amid mounting pressure.
Leadership Change After Fatal Shooting
Bovino, who has been the public face of the federal immigration crackdown in the city, is being replaced on the ground by Tom Homan, President Trump’s border enforcement chief and a long-time advocate of strict immigration policies.
The leadership change follows the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot dead on Saturday during a confrontation with federal immigration officers along with reports that he had been filming the agents at the time.
The incident marked the second fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal immigration officers in January, further escalating tensions in the Democratic-controlled city.
Pressure Mounts On Trump Administration
The move is being widely interpreted as an attempt by the Trump administration to step back from its most aggressive posture, even as immigration raids continue, according to online tracking data.
Criticism has intensified from Democrats, civil rights groups, and senior Republicans, many of whom are demanding an independent investigation into Pretti’s death.
President Trump, who initially defended the operation, has in recent days softened his rhetoric. He has held phone conversations with Democratic state and city leaders, describing the talks as “constructive,” a notable shift from his earlier confrontational tone.
The president has also avoided repeating claims by aides that appeared to place responsibility for the shooting on the victim.
Conflicting Accounts Of Shooting
Federal authorities insist officers acted in self-defence.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Pretti was armed and resisted attempts to disarm him.
“The agents fired in self-defence after Pretti, who was armed with a handgun, resisted attempts to disarm him,” DHS said.
However, the account has been strongly disputed by eyewitnesses, local officials, and Pretti’s family, who maintain he was holding a mobile phone, not a weapon.
Pretti’s parents accused the administration of spreading what they described as “sickening lies” about their son’s death.
Independent video analysis reportedly found no visible firearm in Pretti’s hands at the time of the shooting.
Protests, Political Fallout Grow
The shooting has triggered widespread protests across Minneapolis and neighbouring St Paul, with residents reporting fear, business disruptions, and restricted movement due to the heavy federal presence.
An estimated 3,000 federal immigration agents are currently deployed in the city.
On Monday, Chris Madel, a Republican defence lawyer and gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota, withdrew from the race, describing the federal operation as “an unmitigated disaster.”
Madel previously represented the agent involved in the killing of Renee Good, the first Minneapolis resident shot dead by federal immigration officers earlier this month.
White House Responds
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump wants the “resistance and chaos” in Minneapolis to end.
Trump confirmed he spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats who have openly opposed the federal operation.
Governor Walz said the president agreed to review the scale of the federal deployment and consider allowing the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to conduct an independent investigation.
Mayor Frey is expected to meet Tom Homan to discuss next steps.
Bipartisan Calls For Accountability
Several senior Republicans have expressed concern over the unfolding crisis.
US Senator Ted Cruz urged restraint, while Senator Lindsey Graham described the deployment of Homan as “a smart move.”
Utah Senator John Curtis joined calls for transparency, insisting that anyone responsible must be held accountable regardless of rank.
Meanwhile, memorials and demonstrations have continued across Minneapolis, with protesters demanding justice and the immediate withdrawal of federal immigration agents.
The Minneapolis crackdown began in December following convictions involving welfare fraud by some Somali immigrants. Minnesota hosts the largest Somali immigrant population in the United States, a factor that has further heightened tensions.
