Republicans Shift Tone on Immigration After Minnesota Shootings
In the wake of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, Republicans in Congress have begun to shift their tone on the Trump administration's immigration policies. The shift includes calls for independent investigations, scheduled oversight hearings, and proposed concessions to avert a government shutdown, according to the New York Times. The shift marks some of the strongest and most pointed criticism of the administration from Republicans since the start of President Trump's second term.
The shift comes after the deaths of Renee Good in early January and Alex Pretti this past weekend, both fatally shot by immigration officers, according to BBC World News. Pretti's death reignited local protests and public outcry across the country.
President Trump stated his administration was "going to de-escalate a little bit" in Minnesota, according to BBC World News, calling the shootings "terrible" in a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
Even as some Republicans in Washington speak out against the fatal shootings, they have avoided directly criticizing President Trump or his broader immigration agenda, according to BBC World News. This emerging messaging on Minneapolis highlights the party's dilemma heading into the midterm elections: whether and how to distance itself from the biggest controversies of Trump's administration.
According to the New York Times, Mr. Pretti's killing had drawn notable pushback from a small but significant group of G.O.P. lawmakers even before Mr. Trump switched rhetorical gears, distancing himself from his administration's smears of Mr. Pretti and installing a new co-.
The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected as investigations proceed and Congress considers its next steps.
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