Here’s what was said.
A deadly encounter involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis is fueling growing concern among local law enforcement leaders and intensifying pressure on President Donald Trump over the administration’s expanded federal presence in the city.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Sunday that while enforcing immigration law itself is not the issue, the approach used by federal agents has raised serious public-safety concerns. Appearing on Face the Nation, O’Hara warned that recent operations have unsettled residents and strained trust between authorities and the community.
“The concern isn’t enforcement,” O’Hara said. “It’s the way these actions are being carried out. The tactics we’re seeing are creating fear and unnecessary risk.”
The remarks followed a Saturday incident involving agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, during which 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, died after a confrontation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti displayed a firearm during the encounter.
However, video circulating online appears to show Pretti recording agents with his phone as they restrained a woman nearby. Moments later, agents surrounded Pretti, and an officer appeared to secure a weapon before shots were fired.
O’Hara later confirmed that Pretti legally owned the firearm and held a valid permit to carry. Minnesota law does not prohibit lawful firearm possession during public demonstrations, a detail that has added to questions surrounding the incident.
The case is the second involving federal immigration personnel in Minneapolis this month. Earlier, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were involved in a separate incident that resulted in the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, also a U.S. citizen, during a traffic-related encounter.
Both incidents occurred after the Trump administration deployed additional CBP and ICE agents to Minneapolis amid a federal investigation into alleged social-services fraud in Minnesota. Supporters argue the move was necessary to restore accountability, while critics say the escalation has contributed to rising tensions.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have called on President Trump to reconsider the federal deployment, citing public-safety concerns and community unrest.
Meanwhile, bipartisan calls are growing for an independent review of the most recent incident. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said state investigators were not included in the federal inquiry, raising additional transparency questions.
As investigations continue, the situation underscores a broader national debate over federal authority, law enforcement coordination, and how immigration enforcement can be carried out without undermining public confidence or constitutional protections.