President warns of ‘worse consequences’ as state leaders face blame from administration. Trump defends aggressive action, argues situation justifies the actions
By Yasin Gungor and Ilayda Cakirtekin
ISTANBUL (AA) – US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Minnesota officials to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to operate freely, warning that the state would face more severe consequences if the state is not cleared of undocumented immigrants.
“Let our ICE patriots do their job! 12,000 illegal alien criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. He warned that those still in the state would create “something far worse than you are witnessing today.”
Watch: The latest ICE killing. Viewer discretion advised
Trump’s comments came hours after a US Border Patrol officer shot and killed an armed individual, later identified as Alex Jeffery Pretti, who federal officials said was wanted for “violent assault” during a targeted operation in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara identified the victim as a 37-year-old white American citizen with only traffic violations on record. Authorities said he was believed to be a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.
Trump said federal agents were deployed to Minnesota because of “massive monetary fraud, with billions of dollars missing” under Democratic border policies.
He questioned why local police failed to protect federal officers and accused Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of “inciting insurrection” through their public statements. Trump described the unfolding events as a “cover-up” for what he alleged were stolen public funds.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be leading the investigation of the fatal shooting, NewsNation reported, citing the head of the agency, Kristi Noem.
“This is the same protocol will always follow. Who would trust Governor Walz at this point? The man has stood up and encouraged resistance. He has refused to partner with us. He’s sacrificed his citizens’ safety and their well-being,” she said.
Tensions have escalated in Minnesota amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, following allegations of large-scale fraud linked to publicly subsidised day care centres. State and local officials have denied the claims.
The situation deteriorated after an ICE-related operation resulted in the fatal shooting of an American woman in Minneapolis.
Earlier this week, Trump defended aggressive enforcement tactics by immigration agents, acknowledging that officers can be excessively forceful but arguing the measures are justified due to the risks involved.
