Trump Administration Faces Backlash After Minneapolis ICE Shooting

Minneapolis, MN – The Trump administration is facing mounting criticism and a surge in calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident, which involved the death of Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis, has sparked outrage and prompted a shake-up within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The shooting of Pretti marked the second fatal shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis in just over two weeks, intensifying the scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. A coalition of current and former Health and Human Services (HHS) staffers condemned DHS, accusing the department of causing a growing public health crisis. "We cannot pursue our mission to improve the health and well-being of all Americans while DHS agents are murdering, assaulting, and terrorizing people who call this country home," the group, Save HHS, wrote in a letter released on Monday. They described Pretti's death as an "execution" of their colleague. Multiple videos of the incident reportedly show Pretti attempting to.

In response to the growing bipartisan backlash, President Trump ordered a shake-up among top officials. Tom Homan, the administration's border czar, was appointed to manage ICE operations in Minneapolis. Greg Bovino, a Border Patrol commander associated with aggressive immigration arrests, was expected to leave the city on Tuesday along with a contingent of federal agents, according to the Associated Press. Homan is considered a proponent of targeted enforcement, while Bovino has become associated with highly visible raids.

The shootings have ignited a debate over the role and function of ICE, with support for abolishing the agency surging, even among Republicans. A YouGov poll conducted on Saturday revealed that 19 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of American adults now support abolishing ICE. This represents a significant increase from June, when only 9 percent of Republicans and 27 percent of Americans overall supported such a move. Support has also surged among independents.

The situation has also drawn the attention of political commentators. On this week's episode of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart criticized Republicans for deflecting blame from federal agents in the shooting.

The events in Minneapolis have reignited the debate over immigration policy and the tactics employed by federal agencies. The Trump administration's response and the future of ICE remain uncertain as the situation continues to unfold.