Comer Suggests Trump Should Pull ICE From Minneapolis After Fatal Shootings
House Oversight Chairman James Comer suggested on national television that President Trump should consider pulling ICE and other federal immigration agents out of Minneapolis amid rising violence and political resistance in the city.
Comer’s comments came Sunday during an interview on Fox News, where he said if local leaders are unwilling to cooperate and federal officers face “harm’s way,” the White House might shift its enforcement focus and let residents decide what they want.
The remarks highlight an emerging fault line within Republican ranks over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy in Minnesota. That strategy, called Operation Metro Surge, has deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis and surrounding areas.
Tensions have spiked after multiple fatal shootings involving federal agents, most recently the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during an encounter with federal officers. Videos reviewed by news outlets appear to contradict the federal self-defense narrative, showing Pretti holding a phone rather than a weapon at the outset.
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Local officials including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have called for the removal of ICE, arguing the continued presence fuels unrest and endangers residents.
Some Republican lawmakers are now calling for a thorough investigation into federal tactics and accountability for the shootings, reflecting bipartisan discomfort with the unfolding situation.
With protests ongoing, federal and local investigations underway, and political pressure mounting, the debate over ICE’s role in Minnesota is likely to remain a focal point in national immigration policy discussions this week.
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