The Trump administration is under mounting pressure following the fatal shooting of a civilian by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, an incident that has intensified political tensions and reignited debate over the use of force in immigration enforcement.
US officials confirmed on Wednesday that two immigration agents involved in the shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, have been placed on administrative leave. The move, described by officials as standard procedure, followed the release of video footage showing Pretti being shot multiple times while pinned to the ground by officers wearing camouflage and face coverings.
The killing, which occurred on Saturday, has drawn condemnation across the political spectrum and prompted renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration operations in Democratic-led cities.
President Donald Trump, who had earlier signalled a desire to “de-escalate” tensions in Minneapolis, reversed course on Wednesday, sharply criticising the city’s mayor, Jacob Frey. In a social media post, Trump accused Frey of “playing with fire” by refusing to deploy local police to assist federal agents in enforcing immigration laws.
Mayor Frey responded by reiterating that Minneapolis police would not be used to carry out federal immigration actions. “The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce federal immigration laws,” he said, adding that officers should be focused on preventing violent crime rather than detaining undocumented residents.
The dispute comes as Minneapolis continues to experience unrest linked to federal immigration raids. Community leaders say the use of heavily armed, masked officers has alarmed residents and contributed to an atmosphere of fear. Anger deepened after two protesters — Pretti and Renee Good, both US citizens — were killed in separate encounters with immigration agents earlier this month.
Initial efforts by senior White House aides to justify Pretti’s killing have since been tempered. Stephen Miller, a key Trump adviser, had described Pretti as a potential threat, a claim contradicted by video evidence. He later acknowledged that the agents involved may not have followed established protocols.
In an apparent effort to contain the fallout, the administration has reshuffled leadership overseeing immigration operations in Minneapolis. Greg Bovino, known for aggressive, high-profile enforcement actions, has been replaced by Tom Homan, the administration’s policy-focused “border czar”.
Attorney General Pam Bondi was also in Minneapolis on Wednesday, announcing the arrest of 16 individuals accused of assaulting federal officers during recent clashes. Authorities said those arrests were part of efforts to restore order, while critics argue they risk further inflaming tensions.
The controversy has spilled into national politics. Democrats are signalling that they may seek to block portions of federal funding unless changes are made to rein in what they describe as militarised immigration agencies. The administration, meanwhile, maintains that its operations are aimed at serious criminal activity.
Minnesota has become a particular focus for the White House, partly due to investigations into alleged corruption involving Somali immigrants — claims amplified by Trump and his allies. The president has repeatedly targeted Somali-born congresswoman Ilhan Omar, prompting concerns over political intimidation.
Those fears intensified on Tuesday when a man allegedly sprayed Omar with an unknown substance while she was speaking at a public event. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of assault. Omar later said the hostile political climate, fuelled by repeated attacks from the president, contributed to the incident, though she insisted it would not deter her.
As investigations into the Minneapolis shooting continue, the episode has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority and the limits of force — a debate that shows little sign of cooling as the political stakes rise.
