Federal immigration leadership reshuffled in Minneapolis amid outcry over deadly shooting
A shift is underway in Minneapolis as mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents is prompting changes within the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement leadership.
(NBC)- A shift is underway in Minneapolis as mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents is prompting changes within the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement leadership.
According to an administration official and a law enforcement source, the White House is moving to reduce the number of Border Patrol agents operating in the city. State and local officials have been pressing for a federal pullback in the days following Pretti’s death.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison questioned the federal response, calling the presence of agents disproportionate and unjustified.
The White House has confirmed that Border Czar Tom Homan will now oversee operations in Minneapolis. Multiple sources say controversial Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino is being reassigned out of the city. At the same time, the administration is defending its top Homeland Security leadership.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem continues to have the president’s full confidence and trust.
Secretary Noem is now scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill amid growing bipartisan frustration. Republican Senator John Curtis said he disagreed with what he described as a “premature DHS response” to the Pretti shooting, arguing that statements made before all the facts were known weakened public confidence.
Calls for an independent investigation are growing among Republican lawmakers, as multiple cellphone videos verified and analyzed by NBC News contradict the administration’s initial claim that Pretti was a domestic terrorist. Local officials say Pretti was legally carrying his firearm at the time of the encounter.
Outside the Minneapolis VA Hospital, where Pretti worked as an ICU nurse, a growing memorial reflects the deep grief felt across the community. Former patients have shared stories of his compassion and care, remembering him as someone who offered comfort during their most difficult moments.
As Minneapolis continues to grapple with the fallout, city leaders and residents alike are calling for accountability — and calm — in a city now struggling to heal.
