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Mission accomplished?
Trump pivots ICE approach after second Minnesota fatality
28 January 2025
The cold, Midwestern state of Minnesota dominated international headlines again this week after the second fatal shooting of an ICE protester this month. Protests have ratcheted up after the killing of Renee Good and President Trump sent Border Patrol officers (who typically only work at entry points to the United States) to support the ICE immigration raids in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
On 24 January, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was part of a group at the site of an ICE operation in Minneapolis when he went to aid a woman who was pushed to the ground by officers. When he did this he was tackled, disarmed, and then shot and killed.
Initial
messaging blames Pretti
Initially, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said, “the armed suspect reacted violently” and “looks like a situation when an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.” Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino’s statement after the shooting followed the same key messages saying Pretti “violently resisted” and “this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do
maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
President Trump’s pivot
However, ample video evidence from the shooting appears to contradict with this messaging. President Trump told the Wall Street Journal the administration was “reviewing everything” and declined to support the actions of the Border Patrol officer and shortly after, announced that
“Border Czar” Tom Homan would take over the ICE operations in Minnesota. Bovino has been sent back to California to resume his prior role. More than two dozen Republicans in Congress have backed the push for a thorough investigation, including House Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY). Republicans were also quick to praise Homan, who reports directly to President Trump, rather than Kristi Noem.
These domestic developments are dominating news cycles as US warships have entered the Middle East, setting up the possibility of a strike on Iran. Trump told Axios that his armada next to Iran was, “Bigger than Venezuela.” If a strike on Iran is imminent, it will be eerily similar to last year when the riots over ICE raids in Los Angeles coincided with Trump bombing Iran’s nuclear sites and the media shifted their coverage. President Trump is also kicking off a domestic tour, starting in Iowa, to rally support ahead of this year’s midterm elections. If Democrats gain control of the House, they may well move to impeach President Trump (although would still have a high bar to clear to remove him from office).
With support for his deployment of Tom Homan and his positive reports of progress with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, President Trump may have the out he needs to declare “mission accomplished” in Minnesota and move on.
Mari Koeck
Director of Engagement and Impact
Lead photo: A protester sits on the street with his arms up in front of federal agents and police in south Minneapolis after Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents in the area early Saturday
morning, 24 January 2026 (Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii via Getty).
"I love all of our people. I love his family.
And it's a very sad situation."
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Upcoming events
PUBLIC FORUM
Securing the Indian Ocean: India-Australia maritime partnership
The Indian Ocean is fast becoming one of the world’s most geo-strategically contested maritime arenas. The region’s littoral and island states are grappling with how to respond to this strategic competition but also face multi-dimensional maritime security challenges. These, in turn, are exacerbated by climate change and other economic and social vulnerabilities.
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To unpack these issues, the United States Studies Centre will host a fireside chat with Rushali Saha, USSC Maitri Fellow and Dr Lavina Lee, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre.
28 January 2026
6.00-7.00pmAuditorium, The Michael Spence Building (F23) at the Corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Cost: Free, but registration is essential
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