Multiple media outlets, citing unnamed officials, reported Monday that Bovino and some agents are expected to depart Minneapolis by Tuesday. Leavitt, when asked about Miller’s characterization of Pretti, replied, “I have not heard the president describe Mr. Pretti in that way.”
Trump Orders New Oversight in Minnesota
Earlier in the day, the president announced on Truth Social that border enforcement veteran Tom Homan would travel to Minnesota to oversee U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Trump described Homan as “tough but fair” and said he would report directly to the Oval Office. Leavitt later posted that Homan would coordinate with officials examining alleged fraud schemes in the state.
Thousands of federal personnel have been deployed across Minnesota in recent weeks as part of an aggressive deportation campaign. The policy has drawn heated criticism from Democrats, civil-rights advocates and business leaders, especially after the deaths of Good on Jan. 7 and Pretti on Jan. 25. Both incidents occurred in daylight, were captured on multiple videos, and quickly escalated public scrutiny of immigration agents’ tactics and training.
Rising Political Pressure
Noem and other administration figures now face mounting pushback, including from gun-rights groups and some conservatives who question the department’s messaging. Fox News reported that senior officials involved in immigration enforcement have grown “uneasy and frustrated” with claims circulated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the shootings. Last month, Axios described tensions between Noem and Homan, though Trump has publicly praised both.
On Monday, Noem welcomed Homan’s new role, calling it “good news for peace, safety, and accountability in Minneapolis.” She said his experience would aid ongoing fraud investigations and the removal of “violent criminal illegal aliens.” The secretary again urged Minnesota leaders to cooperate with federal efforts.
The change in tone comes as national surveys show sliding public support for the administration’s immigration agenda. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 39 percent of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, his lowest rating on that issue since returning to office.
Imagem: Internet
Coordination With Minnesota Officials
Trump said on Truth Social that he had a “very good” telephone call Monday with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, adding that both men appeared to be “on a similar wavelength.” According to the governor’s office, Walz argued for impartial probes of the shootings and asked for greater state involvement. The president agreed to have Homan contact the governor and said he would consider reducing the federal law-enforcement footprint in Minnesota.
Leavitt nonetheless faulted local Democratic leaders for the unrest. She asserted that a “deliberate and hostile resistance” by Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others had fueled tensions by “spreading lies about federal law-enforcement officers.” The federal government has subpoenaed several Minnesota Democrats in an investigation into possible obstruction of federal operations, according to published reports.
The governor’s office described Monday’s call as “productive” and said Trump agreed to discuss steps ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can conduct an independent inquiry, a role normally handled by the state when officers use lethal force. DHS, rather than the FBI, is currently in charge of reviewing Pretti’s death, a decision that has drawn criticism because the department is examining actions taken by its own personnel.
Details of the Shootings
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot on Jan. 7 by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Authorities say the agent opened fire as Good began driving her SUV after another officer ordered her out of the vehicle. Pretti, also 37, was killed on Jan. 25 during a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol officers. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has confirmed that Pretti held a legal permit to carry a firearm.
DHS initially claimed Pretti approached officers with a handgun and “violently resisted” after they tried to disarm him. Video circulated online shows the nurse holding up a phone as agents close in. One officer appears to remove a firearm from Pretti before shots are fired. Both killings have prompted nightly demonstrations, candlelight vigils, and renewed debate over the scope of federal authority inside U.S. cities.
As investigations proceed, portions of the federal deployment are expected to rotate out of Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Homan’s arrival underscores the administration’s attempt to reassert control over an operation that has become a flashpoint in national immigration politics and a test of federal-state relations.
Crédito da imagem: Tom Brenner | Getty Images
