WASHINGTON (AP) — A handful of Republicans expressed growing concern Sunday about the tactics that federal immigration officials are using in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man in Minneapolis.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said the killing Saturday of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who protested President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, was a “real tragedy.” Pretti was a U.S. citizen, born in Illinois.
“I think the death of Americans, what we’re seeing on TV, it’s causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability,” Stitt told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Americans don’t like what they’re seeing right now.”
When asked if he thought the president should pull immigration agents from Minnesota, Stitt said Trump has to answer that question, adding, “He’s getting bad advice right now.”
The governor emphasized that the Republican president needed to propose solutions rather than politicizing the situation. “Right now, tempers are just going crazy and we need to calm this down,” Stitt said.
Other Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, also conveyed unease. Cassidy referred to the shooting as “incredibly disturbing” and emphasized the importance of ICE and DHS maintaining credibility. Tillis called for a “thorough and impartial investigation.”
“Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy,” Tillis stated.
Administration officials defended the hard-line immigration strategies, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lamenting the tragedy but blaming Democratic leaders in Minnesota for escalating tensions. He criticized the governor’s handling of the situation, stating, “There are a lot of paid agitators who are ginning things up and the governor has not done a good job of tamping this down.”
