White House calls ICE shooting a tragedy but blames Democrat leaders for resistance, demanding full cooperation to hand over detained migrants.
WASHINGTON: The White House stated President Donald Trump does not want anyone hurt on US streets but immediately blamed Democrats following a second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the shooting death of Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Saturday as a tragedy.
“We mourn for the parents. As a mother myself, of course, I cannot imagine the loss of life,” she told reporters.
Leavitt quickly shifted blame to Democratic leaders for the unrest that erupted after Trump ordered an ICE surge into the city.
“This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota,” she said, targeting Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey.
She accused them of spreading lies about federal officers who are “risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets.”
Leavitt demanded Walz and Frey fully cooperate with federal agents and “turn over all illegal aliens” detained by local authorities.
Pretti possessed a permit to carry a gun, though video did not show him drawing his weapon before agents shot him.
Leavitt affirmed Trump’s support for the right to bear arms but noted carrying a weapon when confronted by law enforcement raises the assumption of risk.
“That’s unfortunately what took place on Saturday,” she said.