In brief
Recent fatalities in Minneapolis due to federal immigration enforcement actions have prompted a wave of critique from within the Republican party. Lawmakers are expressing concern over the use of force by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, yet many shy away from directly confronting former President Trump's broader immigration agenda, highlighting the balancing act they face as midterm elections approach. Public sentiment against strong immigration tactics is growing, revealing complexities in Republican responses as they seek to maintain support within their base while addressing public outrage.
Republican lawmakers are starting to break with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, as the party scrambles to respond to growing public anger after two US citizens were killed by federal agents.
But even as some Republicans in Washington speak out against the fatal shootings, they've avoided directly criticising President Donald Trump or his broader immigration agenda.
The emerging messaging on Minneapolis points to the party's main dilemma heading into the midterm elections: whether and how to distance itself from the biggest controversies of Trump's second term, while running on his overall record on immigration and other issues - a record that's popular on the right, and that most Republicans helped push through Congress.
Their response to the fast-moving events in Minneapolis underscores the delicate balancing act.
Public anger forces a new focus
So far, Republicans have focused criticism on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE - the agency at the forefront of the Minneapolis operation - and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security taking part.
At the same time, Republicans have backed Trump's immigration plans since his return to the White House, but now avoid highlighting their support.
Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress approved roughly $45 billion for border security and additional funding for interior enforcement to help the administration carry out Trump's plan to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the country.
That support continued as opinion polls have consistently shown a majority of Americans believe ICE has gone too far in its tactics under Trump. A New York Times/Siena poll out last Friday found that 61 percent of voters believe ICE's tactics have gone too far.
The survey came out two weeks after Renee Good, a US citizen, was fatally shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis, and one day before another American citizen, Alex Pretti was killed by agents in the city, sparking nationwide protests.
In the same poll, about half of voters said they approved of the administration deporting those living illegally in the US, and about half approved of its approach on the southern border.
In the face of public outcry over the killings, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, called on Monday for the leaders of ICE and two other federal agencies to testify before his panel next month. The request came alongside calls from other Senate Republicans for more oversight of ICE after Pretti's shooting.
The tragedy and chaos the country is witnessing in Minneapolis is shocking, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska wrote on social media. ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties.
Murkowski's condemnation does not come as a major surprise. The Alaska moderate is one of a small handful of Republicans in Congress who've been willing to openly criticise Trump since he first entered office. Paul also has clashed with the president and administration on issues in the past.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina on Tuesday became one of the first prominent Republicans to call for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to step down.
Noem has proven to be way out of her depth, Tillis told reporters, adding that her leadership in Minnesota should be disqualifying.
The White House has said Trump has confidence in Noem.
