Trump signals de-escalation of ICE ops in Minneapolis
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President Trump. Photo: Peng Ziyang/Xinhua via Getty Images
President Trump suggested in a Monday phone call with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz that he's open to reducing the number of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, the governor said after the call.
Why it matters: Democrats have been demanding ICE's exit from Minneapolis for weeks. But the killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday has sparked broader calls for de-escalation, including from big business interests and Republicans in Congress.
Driving the news: In a readout of the call, Walz said Trump "agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals."
- There are some 3,000 federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
- Trump said Walz welcomed the choice to send White House border czar Tom Homan, a former acting ICE director, to Minneapolis.
- Trump said on Monday morning that Homan "will report directly to me."
Zoom out: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday did not defend how some administration officials placed blame for the shooting on Pretti, taking a seemingly softer approach while still blaming Minnesota Democrats.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller swiftly accused the 37-year-old slain ICU nurse of domestic terrorism. DHS suggested he wanted to "massacre" officers.
- Asked about those comments Monday, Leavitt said it was a "fluid and fast-moving situation" and that Trump wants an investigation to continue and to let the "facts lead."
- She told reporters that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI are conducting interviews with the agents involved in the "unfortunate tragedy."
In a post after what he called the "very good call," Trump said the two "seemed to be on a similar wavelength."
- Walz said Trump agreed to speak to the Department of Homeland Security about allowing Minnesota investigators to do the work necessary to reach their own findings on the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good.
- And Trump said Walz "'understood" the DHS desire for getting access to people already in custody in Minnesota. (Walz said he reminded Trump that Minnesota has always given federal officials notice when releasing people who aren't U.S. citizens.)
What we're watching: Leavitt said the president had outlined a "path to restoring law and order" built on three demands for local officials.
- Those include turning over undocumented people arrested or incarcerated to federal authorities and mandating that local police assist federal law enforcement "in apprehending and detaining illegal aliens who are wanted for crimes."
Go deeper: Where the Minnesota crisis stands in the courts
Editor's note: This story was updated with comments from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and additional context.
