Protester shot dead in Minneapolis | Donald Trump tries to play appeasement

(Minneapolis) Federal service agents deployed in Minneapolis will begin to leave the city tomorrow, the mayor announced Monday, while Donald Trump increases gestures of appeasement after the death of a second American killed by immigration police.

The death of Alex Pretti during a demonstration Saturday in the largest metropolis in the state of Minnesota is a “tragedy” and the president “does not want to see people injured or killed in the streets,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said during a midday press briefing.

Faced with criticism, including from his own camp, over the hard line adopted in this northern city, the billionaire then indicated on his Truth Social network that he had a “good conversation” by telephone with Democratic Governor Tim Walz, then with the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey.

The latter immediately announced on X that “certain federal agents will begin to leave the area tomorrow”. “I will continue to fight so that the rest (of the agents) involved in this operation go away,” the Democrat wrote.

The councilor is due to meet on Tuesday Tom Homan, the person responsible for the policy of mass expulsions of migrants led by Donald Trump, who was sent there Monday evening.

Reporting “directly” to the head of state, Mr. Homan will direct immigration enforcement (ICE) operations – replacing border police chief Greg Bovino, according to American media.

There still remains a demand from Mr. Trump set up as a red line by local Democratic elected officials: cooperate with the federal agencies responsible for immigration.

Much of the state is in effect a “sanctuary” limiting local law enforcement’s collaboration with ICE.

Justice sought

In an extremely tense atmosphere since the death of a 37-year-old American woman, Renee Good, shot and killed by a federal agent in Minneapolis on January 7, justice was sought on two fronts on Monday.

According to US media, a federal judge has promised to issue a quick ruling on the Minnesota attorney general’s request to suspend the anti-immigration operation in the state.

This could set a precedent in the United States, David Schultz, professor of political science and law at Hamline University, told AFP.

A complaint to prevent American authorities from destroying evidence in the Alex Pretti case was also examined, without a judgment being rendered.

“An investigation is underway (…) and it is obvious that we are not destroying the evidence,” assured the number 2 of the Department of Justice, Todd Blanche, on Fox News in the morning.

Democratic representatives in Congress are also threatening to block government funding if federal immigration agencies are not reformed.

“I don’t like shooting”

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal On Sunday, Donald Trump implied that federal police officers would leave Minnesota “at some point.”

Regarding the death of Alex Pretti, he assured: “I don’t like shootings”. “But I also don’t like it when someone goes to a demonstration with a gun.”

As with Renee Good, his government placed the blame on the 37-year-old nurse, accusing him of carrying a pistol – for which he had a permit, according to local authorities.

An analysis of videos by AFP seems to contradict the official version presenting him as threatening.

The images show the nurse in the street, filming with his phone armed men wearing “Police” vests.

Read “Protester shot dead in Minneapolis: the video dissected”

He intervenes when an agent pushes a demonstrator and receives tear gas in the face. An agent tackles him to the ground and several of his colleagues intervene.

While a police officer dressed in gray appears to remove a weapon from the waist of Alex Pretti, kneeling between several police officers, a shot is fired. The agents suddenly move aside and shoot several times from a distance. At least 10 detonations are heard.

In a statement, his parents accused the administration of spreading “sickening lies” about their son.