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Ana Faguyin Minneapolis
A top US immigration official is expected to leave the US city of Minneapolis in what may mark a shift in the White House’s tone after the fatal shooting of a second US citizen by federal officers over the weekend.
As Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and some immigration agents depart, “border tsar” Tom Homan will begin leading on-the-ground efforts in the Minnesota city after the shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday escalated tensions.
The decision by President Donald Trump may indicate the administration’s interest in walking back more aggressive federal action in his nationwide immigration crackdown.
Despite the announcement, online tracking shows immigration raids have continued.
Bovino was the face of the operation when Pretti – an observer seen filming agents – became involved in a confrontation that ended in him being shot numerous times.
The border control commander inflamed the situation in the aftermath, claiming that Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the agents fired in self-defence after Pretti, who they say had a handgun, resisted their attempts to disarm him on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses, local officials and the victim’s family have challenged that account, pointing out Pretti had a phone in his hand, not a weapon. His parents, meanwhile, have accused the administration of spreading “sickening lies” about what happened.
Bovino has been key to the Trump administration’s hardline approach to immigration enforcement in several cities, active on social media and regularly filming raids and posting promotional videos showing his agents’ action.
Homan, who will report directly to the president, advocates for Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement. But he also has experience in the role – Homan worked with immigration and deportations during Barack Obama’s Democrat administration.
On Monday tension and frustration over the presence of federal officials remained high in Minneapolis.
“A lot of people aren’t able to work right now, they aren’t able to leave their house, they’re afraid,” said George Cordero, a resident of St Paul, Minneapolis’, sister city.
Pretti was the second Minneapolis resident shot and killed by federal immigration officials since their arrival in the state. Renee Nicole Good was killed by an Immigration and Customs Border Enforcement (ICE) agent on 7 January.
Some media reports suggested Bovino had been let go from his role, but Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied that, saying the border patrol chief was “a key part of the president’s team and a great American”.
Much of the anger in the city and from politicians on both sides of the aisle was directed at Bovino and border patrol agents sent to Minneapolis along with ICE agents at Trump’s directive. In total, there are more than 3,000 immigration agents in the city.
Micayla Pretti, Alex Pretti’s younger sister, released a statement on Monday, the Associated Press reported, calling her brother “my hero”.
“When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough?” her statement said.
Carol Engelheart, a retired nurse from Minneapolis, said events in the city had left her shaken.
“We need to care about this country, we need to care that we have a Constitution left, and if the people organise and the people stand up, we can do this,” she said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that it is the president’s “hope and wish and demand for the resistance and chaos” in Minneapolis to end.
Also on Monday, Trump spoke with both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey – Democratic leaders who have resisted the immigration efforts and demanded agents be removed from the state. Trump has criticised both in recent weeks.
Both Trump and the local leaders characterised the talks as positive – a sign that both sides were seeking a way to end their standoff over Trump’s deportation drive.
Trump said he and Walz are “on a similar wavelength” and said his target is “any and all criminals that they have in their possession”.
“The president agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and to talk to DHS about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case,” Walz said after the call.
Ensuring an independent investigation into Pretti’s death has been a central focus for Walz. In its immediate aftermath, local authorities obtained a judicial warrant to gain access to the crime scene to preserve evidence.
In the aftermath of Good’s shooting, local and state authorities said they were being kept out of the investigation by federal immigration officials.
Frey meanwhile said he hoped to meet Homan on Tuesday to discuss next steps.
Republican senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham called Trump’s decision to send Homan to Minneapolis “a very smart move”.
Another Republican senator, John Curtis from Utah, called for a “transparent, independent investigation” into Pretti’s shooting.
“Those responsible – no matter their title – must be held accountable,” he said.
Memorials for Pretti – a 37-year-old ICU nurse – and demonstrations against ICE action continued on Monday night, including one that saw about a hundred people gather outside the hotel Bovino was believed to be staying in and demanding that he leave the city.
More vigils and demonstrations are planned for the coming days.
