Senior Immigration Official Set to Leave Minneapolis After Fatal Shooting
Leadership Change Follows Rising Tensions
A senior US immigration official is expected to leave Minneapolis, a move that may signal a shift in the Trump administration’s approach to its nationwide immigration crackdown. The change follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a US citizen, by federal officers over the weekend.
As Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and several immigration agents prepare to depart the city, White House immigration adviser Tom Homan, often referred to as the “border tsar,” will take charge of on-the-ground operations.
Possible Shift in White House Tone
President Donald Trump’s decision comes amid growing public scrutiny and may suggest an effort to reduce the intensity of federal action in the city. However, despite the leadership change, online tracking data shows immigration raids have continued.
The administration has not announced a pause or rollback of enforcement activities.
Shooting Sparks Controversy
Bovino had served as the public face of the Minneapolis operation when Pretti, described as an observer filming officers, became involved in a confrontation that ended with him being shot multiple times.
After the incident, Bovino escalated tensions by claiming that Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents.
Conflicting Accounts of Events
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said agents fired in self-defence after Pretti, whom they say carried a handgun, resisted efforts to disarm him on Saturday.
However, eyewitnesses, local officials, and Pretti’s family have disputed that account. They say Pretti held a mobile phone, not a weapon, at the time of the shooting.
Meanwhile, Pretti’s parents accused the administration of spreading what they described as “sickening lies” about the circumstances surrounding their son’s death.
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