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Controversy Surrounds ICE Operations and Reactions in Minnesota
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis sparked widespread controversy and drew criticism from various figures, including Grammy Award-winning producer Finneas O'Connell and Senator John Fetterman. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, marked the second agent-involved shooting death in Minnesota within a month, intensifying the debate over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state.
O'Connell, brother of Billie Eilish, took to social media to condemn conservatives' response to the shooting, telling them to "shut the f--- up" in an Instagram reel shared with his nearly 5 million followers, according to Fox News. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., called on President Donald Trump to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing her of "betraying" the department's central mission in a post on X, Fox News reported.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also weighed in, stating that the public should not treat Border Patrol or ICE officers as real "law enforcement" officers, according to Jonathan Turley of Fox News. Turley criticized Democratic politicians for fueling rage against ICE officers, arguing that their rhetoric risked lives.
The increased scrutiny of ICE operations in Minnesota comes as ICE is slated to play a security role during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. U.S. Embassy officials told The Associated Press that ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations.
Amid the unrest, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that any move by Canada to economically break from the United States would be "a disaster," dismissing remarks by Prime Minister Mark Carney as unrealistic. "Canada depends on the U.S. There's much more North-South trade than there could ever be East-West trade," Bessent said on "Hannity," according to Fox News.
The situation in Minnesota has become increasingly tense, with some even labeling federal agents as Nazis, a sentiment Sen. John Fetterman addressed as "not appropriate," according to Fox News. The events have prompted calls for a change in approach to immigration enforcement and sparked a broader debate about the role and perception of ICE in the United States.
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