President Donald Trump on Sunday laid out five demands for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Democratic governors and mayors nationwide, and Congress—urging them to “formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws” in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.
The Context
Trump’s demands mark a sharp escalation in the ongoing clash between the administration and Democratic-led jurisdictions over immigration enforcement. The move follows the death of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was fatally shot Saturday during what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as a targeted immigration operation.
Minnesota officials—including Attorney General Keith Ellison—have said they plan to challenge federal actions in court. Walz has also called for federal agents to be removed from the state.
Trump’s statement broadened the conflict beyond Minnesota, pressing Democratic leaders nationwide to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
Trump on Truth Social
In his Sunday post, Trump wrote:
“That is why I am hereby calling on Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor in the United States of America to formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence:
Governor Walz and Mayor Frey should turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, along with all Illegal Criminals with an active warrant or known Criminal History, for Immediate Deportation.
State and Local Law Enforcement must agree to turn over all Illegal Aliens arrested by Local Police.
Local Police must assist Federal Law Enforcement in apprehending and detaining Illegal Aliens who are wanted for Crimes.
Democrat Politicians must partner with the Federal Government to protect American Citizens in the rapid removal of all Criminal Illegal Aliens in our Country. Some Democrats, in places like Memphis, Tennessee, or Washington, D.C., have done so, resulting in safer streets for ALL.
In addition, I am hereby calling on the United States Congress to immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities, which is the root cause of all of these problems. American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation’s Laws.
All of these requests are rooted in COMMON SENSE, and will provide the best possible circumstances to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The Trump Administration is standing by, and waiting for ANY Democrat to do the right thing, and work with us on these important matters of MAKING AMERICA SAFE like it is in all sections of our Country where we are, together with Local Leadership, participating and involved.
DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
Bondi Letter Sets Additional Conditions
Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to the report, sent a letter to Walz late Saturday demanding three actions before federal immigration agents would consider reducing their presence in Minneapolis.
Those conditions include: turning over voter registration records to the Department of Justice, repealing sanctuary policies, and sharing records related to Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Service programs.
In the letter, Bondi blamed state and local officials for unrest tied to immigration enforcement operations, writing: “You and your office must restore the rule of law, support ICE officers and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota.” She also pointed to what she described as a 1,300 percent increase in violence against ICE officers and a 3,200 percent increase in vehicular attacks against federal agents as justification for continued operations.
Bondi also criticized Walz for calling federal law enforcement “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo,” and Frey for saying, “ICE: Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.” The letter drew pushback from Democratic officials and legal experts. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut posted on X: “This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.”
Conflicting Narratives Over the Shooting
Pretti’s death comes weeks after another fatal shooting in Minneapolis: Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and U.S. citizen, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross. Both cases have fueled protests and condemnation.
DHS said the agent who shot Pretti acted in self-defense after attempting to disarm him. Walz, however, called that account “nonsense,” saying he reached that conclusion after reviewing video of the incident.
Pretti’s family said in a statement that their son was “a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.”
They accused the administration of spreading what they called “sickening lies,” and said Pretti “has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.”
What People Are Saying
Gov. Tim Walz on X: “Minnesota believes in law and order. We believe in peace. And we believe that Trump needs to pull his 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another American in the street.”
Attorney General Keith Ellison on X: “Minnesotans, you have stood up for your neighbors, without faltering, without failing, and without backing down. I am proud to be in this fight with you and I am here to match your bravery.”
Mayor Jacob Frey on Saturday: “After today’s shooting, Minneapolis is filing a declaration to push for an immediate ruling on our temporary restraining order. We need swift action to protect our city. I’ve formally requested National Guard assistance to support our 600 Minneapolis police officers. I’ve been clear for weeks: this situation is unsustainable. Our community is tired. Our officers are tired. Our businesses are tired. Our top priority is safety and this will help.”
He added: “My executive order remains in effect: ICE cannot use City-owned property for immigration enforcement.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi on X: “The full weight of federal law enforcement is engaged in Minnesota, and this Department of Justice is advancing action on every front. Walz, Ellison and Frey have acknowledged receipt of federal grand jury subpoenas from this DOJ. We have arrested multiple individuals in the Cities Church attack and will continue to fight for our religious organizations. Today we arrested a man who violently assaulted an HSI agent. More arrests are coming. Meanwhile, our attorneys are relentlessly fighting to defeat the unprecedented judicial activism unfolding in Minnesota. Accountability is coming.”
What Happens Next
Ellison’s court challenge to federal immigration operations is scheduled for Monday. Minneapolis is also filing a declaration seeking a temporary restraining order aimed at pausing the operations.
The administration has indicated it plans to increase the federal law-enforcement footprint in Minneapolis by bringing in additional officers from the DEA, FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), despite growing pressure from state officials.
