President Donald Trump said his administration may need “a softer touch” in immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis last month. Trump made the remarks during a Wednesday (February 4) Oval Office interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas, after weeks of national outcry and protests over the deadly incidents.
“I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough,” President Trump told NBC, emphasizing the need to balance strong law enforcement with greater care. He added, “We’re dealing with really hard criminals. But look, I’ve called the people. I’ve called the governor. I’ve called the mayor. Spoke to ’em. Had great conversations with them. And then I see them ranting and raving out there. Literally as though a call wasn’t made.”
The president’s comments came as his administration announced it would withdraw 700 federal immigration officers from Minnesota. According to Tom Homan, Trump’s border chief, about 2,000 agents will remain in the state, down from a peak of nearly 2,700 in recent weeks. Homan said the move follows increased cooperation with local authorities and a shift to detaining more suspects directly from jails instead of on the streets.
The decision comes after the deaths of 37-year-old Renee Good and 37-year-old Alex Pretti, both U.S. citizens, who were killed in separate encounters with federal immigration agents in January. The shootings sparked widespread demonstrations and calls for an end to the so-called “Metro Surge” operation in Minneapolis. Video footage contradicted government claims that the agents acted in self-defense, raising questions about the initial accounts provided by officials.
Both Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Democrats, welcomed the reduction of federal personnel but called for a complete end to the operation and independent investigations into the shootings. Homan, who replaced former commander Gregory Bovino amid the controversy, said the operation would continue until mass deportation goals are met.
Recent Comments