President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had what both described as a “productive” phone call Monday after immigration officers fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti Saturday.”It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump said in a social media post, adding that he would be speaking to Walz again in the near future.The phone call is the first sign of potential cooperation between the state and federal government since the Trump administration launched Operation. The White House said the discussion included the possibility of scaling back those efforts. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “If Governor Walz and Mayor Frey implement these common-sense cooperative measures, CBP will no longer be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota.”Leavitt said those measures include state and local officials cooperating with the federal immigration agents.In a statement, Walz said Minnesota is already cooperating with federal immigration agents.The president also announced that White House border czar Tom Homan will travel to Minneapolis to serve as the administration’s point person on the ground, reporting directly to Trump.As demonstrations continue, a federal judge is weighing whether to temporarily halt the federal immigration crackdown. During arguments, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter warned of broader consequences, saying, “If this is not stopped right here, right now, I don’t think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future.”The shooting of Pretti over the weekend marked the second fatal incident involving federal immigration officers in the city in less than a month, further intensifying public and political scrutiny.Trump has blamed what he called “Democrat ensued chaos” and urged Congress to pass legislation ending so-called sanctuary cities.However, momentum on Capitol Hill appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Some Republicans have joined Democrats in calling for deeper investigations into the fatal shootings, including Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.Separately, Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has called on top immigration enforcement officials to testify before his panel following the latest Minneapolis shooting, stressing the need for oversight to ensure federal funds are used effectively to enforce immigration laws and protect public safety.The White House confirmed that multiple investigations are underway, including by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, with officials reviewing body camera footage from the most recent shooting.The fallout is now colliding with a looming funding deadline in Washington. Senate Democrats are vowing to oppose new funding for Homeland Security, raising the risk of a partial government shutdown if lawmakers fail to pass remaining appropriations bills by Friday.Leavitt said the administration supports the bipartisan funding package, stating, “We absolutely do not want to see that funding lapse, and we want the Senate to move forward with passing the bipartisan appropriations package that was negotiated on a bipartisan basis.”Video below: Video analysis gives new context to shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents
President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had what both described as a “productive” phone call Monday after immigration officers fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti Saturday.
“It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump said in a social media post, adding that he would be speaking to Walz again in the near future.
The phone call is the first sign of potential cooperation between the state and federal government since the Trump administration launched Operation.
The White House said the discussion included the possibility of scaling back those efforts. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “If Governor Walz and Mayor Frey implement these common-sense cooperative measures, CBP will no longer be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota.”
Leavitt said those measures include state and local officials cooperating with the federal immigration agents.
In a statement, Walz said Minnesota is already cooperating with federal immigration agents.
The president also announced that White House border czar Tom Homan will travel to Minneapolis to serve as the administration’s point person on the ground, reporting directly to Trump.
As demonstrations continue, a federal judge is weighing whether to temporarily halt the federal immigration crackdown.
During arguments, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter warned of broader consequences, saying, “If this is not stopped right here, right now, I don’t think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future.”
The shooting of Pretti over the weekend marked the second fatal incident involving federal immigration officers in the city in less than a month, further intensifying public and political scrutiny.
Trump has blamed what he called “Democrat ensued chaos” and urged Congress to pass legislation ending so-called sanctuary cities.
However, momentum on Capitol Hill appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
Some Republicans have joined Democrats in calling for deeper investigations into the fatal shootings, including Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.
Separately, Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has called on top immigration enforcement officials to testify before his panel following the latest Minneapolis shooting, stressing the need for oversight to ensure federal funds are used effectively to enforce immigration laws and protect public safety.
The White House confirmed that multiple investigations are underway, including by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, with officials reviewing body camera footage from the most recent shooting.
The fallout is now colliding with a looming funding deadline in Washington. Senate Democrats are vowing to oppose new funding for Homeland Security, raising the risk of a partial government shutdown if lawmakers fail to pass remaining appropriations bills by Friday.
Leavitt said the administration supports the bipartisan funding package, stating, “We absolutely do not want to see that funding lapse, and we want the Senate to move forward with passing the bipartisan appropriations package that was negotiated on a bipartisan basis.”
Video below: Video analysis gives new context to shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents
