The Trump administration is facing rare GOP pushback over the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by federal agents, with a small but growing number of congressional Republicans calling for an investigation and at least one suggesting immigration officials should leave the state.
So far, Democrats have led the groundswell of criticism after immigration agents pinned and then killed a man protesting ICE’s presence in the city on Saturday, marking the second shooting death this month. But a handful of Republicans have called the incident “disturbing” while urging congressional oversight.
“I am troubled by the events that have unfolded in Minneapolis,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Sunday, supporting the decision of House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) to request testimony from the leadership of ICE and other immigration agencies.
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”As an attorney and former federal prosecutor, I believe a thorough investigation is necessary — both to get to the bottom of these incidents and to maintain Americans’ confidence in our justice system,” added McCaul, who chaired the committee until 2019.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who leads the House Oversight Committee, seemed to urge President Donald Trump to consider drawing down its immigration forces from Minneapolis, which has become the epicenter of weeks of protests over ICE tactics.
Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a woman who appeared to be obstructing traffic before an altercation with the officer.
“If I were President Trump, I would almost think … if there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives, then maybe go to another city and let the people of Minneapolis decide,” Comer said Sunday on Fox News while accusing state officials of stoking the controversy.
The shooting has fanned Democratic calls to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) joining more than 100 other House Democrats in describing her as unqualified for the job on Sunday.
Gillen is one of seven Democrats who supported funding for the Department of Homeland Security in a House vote last week. In the Senate, that money is freshly in jeopardy over the shooting, as virtually all Democrats appear poised to block the government funding bill ahead of an end-of-January shutdown deadline.
Most Republicans have yet to comment on Saturday’s shooting, even some centrists who have been vocal with the administration in the past. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said he was “loathe” to give his opinion before he learned more about the circumstances of 37-year-old Alex Pretti’s death.
“It’s hard to determine,” Bacon told the Washington Examiner, reiterating his support for legislation that bolsters border security while providing a pathway to legal status for illegal immigrants.
“The biggest issue from a congressional standpoint is that we need to update our legal immigration laws,” he added. “I support the Dignity Act for this reason.”
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Other Republicans joined calls for an investigation, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) chiding the initial response from administration officials who have characterized Pretti as an “assassin” and “domestic terrorist.”
“Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy,” Tillis said in a Sunday statement.
A day earlier, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) warned that the “credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake” after the “incredibly disturbing” shooting. His comments mark a rare break from the White House after Trump endorsed a primary challenger last week.
Trump also received vocal criticism from centrist Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a political foe and libertarian, both of whom focused on claims that agents were justified in shooting Pretti because he was armed.
Pretty reportedly had a concealed carry permit, and the weapon seemed to be removed before the first shot was fired, according to bystander footage of the incident.
“Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right, and if you don’t understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government,” Massie said on X Sunday.
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Ex-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene challenged the accusation that Pretti’s gun was visible before the incident, posting that “legally carrying a firearm is not the same as brandishing a firearm.” Greene, a one-time Trump ally, retired from Congress in January after a falling out with the president.
Their concerns come as Second Amendment groups released statements supporting an investigation into the Border Patrol shooting.