USA, Trump opens up the possibility of Ice leaving Minneapolis

Donald Trump told theWall Street Journal that the White House "has reviewed everything" about the Minneapolis shooting and thatthe administration "will make a decision" on the actions of the federal agent who killed Alex Pretti. He also opened up to the possibility of a withdrawal, at least partial, of the teams deployed in Minnesota: "At some point we will leave", he said, without indicating a timeframe, adding, however, that there will remain "a different group" to deal with financial fraud and alleged public funds scandals. It is the first crack, at least in terms of communication, in a line that has so far defended ICE's operation and blamedthe responsibility for the chaos on Democrats and 'sanctuary cities', i.e., those urban settings that limit federal immigration cooperation.

Alex Pretti, 37, a US citizen and intensive care nurse, was shot dead in Minneapolis on 24 January during an operation conducted by federal agents linked to immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security (Dhs) claimed the agents fired in self-defence, describing escalated contact and immediate risk. But Reuters verified footage of bystanders in which Pretti appears to be holding a phone, is hit with pepper spray, tackled and then hit by shots while on the ground.

The ABC News also reconstructed a minute-by-minute timeline and reported on a forensic audio analysis of the videos: ten shots were allegedly fired in less than five seconds, a detail that contributed to questions about the proportionality of the use of force.

Trump, in the interview with the WWsj, did not answer directly when asked whether the officer acted correctly, but shifted the argument to the presence of a weapon and the context of the square, saying that he does not like shootings and, at the same time, criticising the idea of someone participating in a protest carrying a 'powerful weapon'. According to the Guardian, even pro-gun groups have called for a full investigation into the Pretti case, fearing that the story will end up becoming a precedent against legal carrying.

In early January, in Minneapolis, an ICE agent killed Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, a mother of three. For the local public, the two deaths in less than a month contribute to the perception of a 'militarisation' of federal operations and a rapid deterioration of relations between agents and city institutions.