Minnesota Republican Quits Governor Race Amid Immigration Crackdown Backlash

Minneapolis, MN – Chris Madel, a Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, announced his withdrawal from the race on Monday, citing the GOP's dim prospects for victory and condemning the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics in the state. Madel specifically criticized the recent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, by a federal agent, calling it an "unmitigated disaster," according to a video posted on social media.

Madel stated he could not support the national Republican Party's "stated retribution on the citizens of our state," nor could he remain a member of a party that would pursue such actions. His departure underscores the growing bipartisan opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies in Minnesota, which has intensified following Pretti's death on January 24.

The shooting of Pretti, who Trump administration officials initially portrayed as a violent agitator, has sparked widespread protests and calls for an independent investigation into immigration enforcement tactics. These calls have grown louder since another Minneapolis resident was fatally shot by agents in her car weeks prior, according to Fortune.

In response to the escalating tensions, President Trump announced that his "border czar," Tom Homan, would be dispatched to Minneapolis this week. Homan previously served as the head of ICE Enforcement and Removal under the Obama administration, according to Fortune. His arrival coincides with growing demands from both Republicans and Democrats for greater scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics.

The situation in Minnesota unfolds amidst other significant developments on the global stage. An aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln and including three destroyers, arrived in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command announced on Monday. The deployment, intended to "promote regional security and stability," raises the potential for President Trump to order airstrikes on Iran, according to Fortune. The strike group was located in the Indian Ocean, not the Arabian Sea bordering Iran, and will bring thousands of additional service members to the region.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Israel announced the recovery of the final hostage body in Gaza, paving the way for the next phase of President Trump's peace plan, NPR reported. The military identified the body as that of Ran Gvili, 24.

In Europe, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte addressed EU lawmakers in Brussels on Monday, asserting that Europe remains incapable of defending itself without U.S. military support. "If anyone thinks here that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You can't," Rutte stated, emphasizing the need for European nations to more than double their current military spending targets, according to NPR.