President Donald Trump stated federal immigration agents could employ a “softer touch” during deportation operations following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month. The remarks came during an Oval Office interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas, where Trump emphasized the need for both firmness and adjustment in handling enforcement actions.
“The lesson from Minneapolis is ‘Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch,’” Trump said, adding that agents must remain “tough” while acknowledging they are dealing with “really hard criminals.” His comments followed weeks of national outrage over the January deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, who were shot by federal agents in separate incidents.
Trump’s remarks intensified tensions with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who have publicly condemned his administration’s immigration crackdown and the fatalities. The president has previously blamed Good and Pretti for the shootings while characterizing them as domestic terrorists—a claim he has not substantiated.
Border Czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday that approximately 700 federal agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by processing arrested immigrants. However, Homan confirmed 2,000 officers will remain in the state, maintaining enforcement operations that have sparked widespread conflict since the Minneapolis shootings began a surge in federal immigration actions.
