President Donald Trump has stated that his administration will 'de-escalate a little bit' in Minnesota following the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration officers. In an interview with Fox News, he expressed that 'both incidents were terrible' after Renee Good was shot earlier this month, followed by the death of Alex Pretti over the weekend when stopped by border agents. Pretti's death ignited renewed protests and raised criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum, prompting calls for changes to the federal immigration operations in the state.

Trump considered Pretti's killing 'very unfortunate,' but added that he hadn't encountered descriptions of Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist.' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following the shooting, criticized Pretti, claiming he was involved in violence rather than peaceful protest. Contradicting the Department of Homeland Security's initial statements, eyewitnesses argue that Pretti was shot while holding a phone, not a weapon. A preliminary report noted that shots were fired by agents but omitted references to him reaching for a firearm.

In the wake of these incidents, the Department of Homeland Security removed its Minnesota operations leader and placed Tom Homan, previously in charge of border operations, to oversee actions in the state.

Outrage within the community persists with calls for federal agents to withdraw due to past tragedies involving immigration enforcement. Governor Tim Walz and local officials are advocating for a prioritization of investigations into these shootings. The situation remains tense, and while Trump acknowledges good crime numbers resulting from federal efforts, the response in Minnesota suggests a need for reevaluation of current strategies relating to immigration enforcement.