The political temperature in Minnesota reached a boiling point Tuesday as dozens of anti-ICE activists flooded the state capitol, gathering outside Governor Tim Walz’s office to demand immediate action in the wake of ICU nurse Alex Pretti’s death.
The protests are the latest flashpoint in a widening national debate over immigration enforcement, state authority, and federal response under President Donald Trump’s immigration directives.
Pretti, an outspoken critic of federal immigration agencies, was shot and killed by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent on Saturday during what officials have described as an active immigration operation. While the specifics of her alleged interference remain under investigation, her death has galvanized daily protests and reenergized a vocal opposition to ICE’s presence in the state.
By Tuesday, tensions reached the doorsteps of the governor’s office. Protesters chanted “ICE out now” and “Do your job,” directing their frustration squarely at Walz. Though Walz has long been known for his criticisms of federal immigration policy—at one point even comparing ICE agents to the Nazi Gestapo—activists now accuse him of not doing enough to curb federal enforcement in Minnesota.
Earlier that same day, Walz met with federal immigration “border czar” Tom Homan, who was dispatched to Minnesota by the Trump administration following the shooting and the subsequent civil unrest. The meeting appeared to strike a tenuous balance between protester demands and federal expectations.
According to the governor’s office, Walz pushed for “a swift, significant reduction” of federal enforcement personnel and demanded “an end to the campaign of retribution,” suggesting concerns that federal agencies may be using immigration enforcement as a retaliatory tool.
Despite the protests, the tone between Walz and Trump has taken a surprisingly collaborative turn. In what was described as a “productive” call on Monday, the two leaders discussed immigration operations in Minnesota. Trump, in a statement on Truth Social, remarked that Walz had been unexpectedly “reasonable,” and the two were “on a similar wavelength.” The President noted, “It couldn’t have been a nicer conversation,” a striking contrast to past friction.
Walz’s comparison over the weekend of Minnesota’s illegal immigrant population to Holocaust victim Anne Frank has drawn sharp criticism and renewed scrutiny. The comment—while intended to underscore the fear many undocumented individuals feel—has been widely condemned as historically inappropriate and politically inflammatory.
As pressure mounts, the Trump administration has begun recalibrating its enforcement leadership. Tom Homan’s deployment was the first move, followed by reports that Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino will be removed from his current post and reassigned to California. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem remains in her position following a closed-door two-hour meeting with the President. Trump later reiterated his support for Noem, quelling rumors of a shake-up at the top.