A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, a sign that the Trump administration’s accounting of events may face bipartisan scrutiny.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino sought testimony from leaders at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, saying “my top priority remains keeping Americans safe.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy said the shooting was “incredibly disturbing” and that the “credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.” He pushed for “a full joint federal and state investigation.”
Sen. Thom Tillis urged a “thorough and impartial investigation” and said “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.”
The killing has raised uncomfortable questions about the GOP’s core positions on issues ranging from gun ownership to states’ rights and trust in the federal government. Officials say Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot, was armed, but no bystander videos that have surfaced so far appear to show him holding a weapon.
The National Rifle Association said “responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said “carrying a firearm is not a death sentence.” “It’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right,” he said.
The Trump administration has defended its immigration enforcement tactics, with Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller referencing an “assassin” and “domestic terrorist.” Some Republicans are calling for a de-escalation in Minneapolis, with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt saying the shooting was a “real tragedy” and Trump needs to define an “end game.”
