former president Donald Trump has moved to overhaul federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, appointing longtime immigration hardliner Tom Homan to take charge, as his administration faces mounting criticism over the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by Federal Agents.
Homan, Trump’s border czar, was set to replace senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino on Tuesday. The shake-up comes amid national outrage following the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents during protests over immigration enforcement.
According to a White House official and a source familiar with internal discussions, Trump met with senior advisers over the weekend to reassess the administration’s response to the incident, amid concerns that the fallout could derail his broader immigration agenda.
Among the options considered were reducing the number of federal agents deployed in Minnesota, narrowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations to focus more strictly on deportations, and expanding cooperation with state and local authorities. Trump also weighed whether federal immigration officers should be required to wear body cameras, similar to many local police departments.
The shooting of Pretti—an ICU nurse who was legally carrying a concealed firearm but did not brandish it—has intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics. Video footage recorded by bystanders contradicted early claims by administration officials that Pretti posed a lethal threat.
The incident followed another fatal shooting earlier this month, in which 37-year-old Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer, further fueling public anger over the aggressive presence of roughly 3,000 federal agents operating in Minneapolis.
Even some Republicans have joined calls for investigations. On Monday, Minnesota’s chief federal judge ordered acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear at a contempt hearing, citing the agency’s failure to comply with court orders requiring bond hearings for certain detainees.
“The court’s patience is at an end,” wrote U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz.
Political Pressure Mounts
A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated declining public support for Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy, both before and after Pretti’s death. Several Republican lawmakers have privately expressed concern that continued controversy could jeopardize the party’s congressional majorities in the upcoming midterm Elections.
In response, Trump has adopted a notably more restrained public tone. He described recent conversations with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as productive, a sharp contrast to earlier confrontational exchanges.
Governor Walz’s office said Trump agreed to allow state authorities to conduct their own investigation into Pretti’s death, while Mayor Frey stated that some federal agents were expected to begin leaving the city.
Trump also reportedly instructed senior aides to avoid publicly criticizing Pretti, distancing himself from earlier remarks by administration officials that portrayed the victim as a threat. Authenticated video footage later undermined those claims.
Meanwhile, Gregory Bovino is expected to return to his previous role along the U.S.-Mexico border in California before retiring. Though the Department of Homeland Security denied he was formally removed, sources say his specially created title of “commander at large” has been eliminated.
Video Evidence Raises Questions
Footage of the incident shows Pretti holding a phone as agents forced him to the ground. Officers later retrieved a firearm from his waistband after he had been subdued. Pretti was legally licensed to carry the weapon.
The controversy has had political repercussions within Minnesota. Chris Madel, a prominent Republican candidate for governor, withdrew from the race, criticizing what he described as excessive federal enforcement.
“I cannot support retribution against the citizens of our state,” Madel said in a video statement. “Nor can I remain part of a party that allows it.”
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