Federal officials' swift and decisive actions in the wake of a fatal shooting in Minneapolis have sparked intense frustration among some Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The incident involved Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, before a thorough investigation had begun.
The DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, quickly made sweeping statements about the deadly shooting, claiming that Pretti intended to "kill" and "inflict maximum damage." These claims have been contradicted by videos of the incident and witness accounts, leading to internal frustration among some at DHS who are increasingly concerned about the agency's reputation.
"It's unclear who thought it would be a good idea to make such claims before any facts were established," said one top DHS official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It was a terrible miscalculation."
The incident has further inflamed tensions in Minneapolis, where federal agents have been deployed under President Trump's nationwide campaign against illegal immigration. Just three weeks ago, another U.S. citizen and Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The investigation into Pretti's killing has also raised questions about the role of ICE and the handling of evidence. The U.S. officials and FBI Director Kash Patel have stated that ICE will take the lead in investigating the shooting, a move described as highly unusual.
Critics argue that immigration agents are facing an "extremely difficult situation" in the field, citing instances of them getting attacked or obstructed while on the job. The Border Patrol official who spoke to CBS News argued that agents are being politicized and that their actions should not be driven by politics.
The incident has also highlighted the need for caution when making public statements about law enforcement incidents. "We are being beat up" by both sides of the political spectrum, said one Border Patrol official. "That's not the job we signed up for."
As the investigation into Pretti's killing continues, some at DHS are calling for a more measured approach to be taken in responding to these incidents. "Wait for an investigation before making definitive statements," said the official.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about the use of federal immigration agents and the need for greater accountability within law enforcement agencies. The Trump administration's deportation campaign has seen growing public opposition, with a recent CBS News poll finding that Americans' support for it had fallen to 46%.
The DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, quickly made sweeping statements about the deadly shooting, claiming that Pretti intended to "kill" and "inflict maximum damage." These claims have been contradicted by videos of the incident and witness accounts, leading to internal frustration among some at DHS who are increasingly concerned about the agency's reputation.
"It's unclear who thought it would be a good idea to make such claims before any facts were established," said one top DHS official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It was a terrible miscalculation."
The incident has further inflamed tensions in Minneapolis, where federal agents have been deployed under President Trump's nationwide campaign against illegal immigration. Just three weeks ago, another U.S. citizen and Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The investigation into Pretti's killing has also raised questions about the role of ICE and the handling of evidence. The U.S. officials and FBI Director Kash Patel have stated that ICE will take the lead in investigating the shooting, a move described as highly unusual.
Critics argue that immigration agents are facing an "extremely difficult situation" in the field, citing instances of them getting attacked or obstructed while on the job. The Border Patrol official who spoke to CBS News argued that agents are being politicized and that their actions should not be driven by politics.
The incident has also highlighted the need for caution when making public statements about law enforcement incidents. "We are being beat up" by both sides of the political spectrum, said one Border Patrol official. "That's not the job we signed up for."
As the investigation into Pretti's killing continues, some at DHS are calling for a more measured approach to be taken in responding to these incidents. "Wait for an investigation before making definitive statements," said the official.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about the use of federal immigration agents and the need for greater accountability within law enforcement agencies. The Trump administration's deportation campaign has seen growing public opposition, with a recent CBS News poll finding that Americans' support for it had fallen to 46%.
I mean, can you imagine if they made those claims about the coffee shop barista who spilled your latte? "You were trying to kill me and inflict maximum damage"... yeah right 
. Like, get some facts before you start throwing around accusations, guys! 
And btw, have you seen the way Trump is using his exec powers these days? It's like he thinks he's a superhero... but with more tweeting 
.
. And can we talk about how this incident is just another example of how tough it is for law enforcement officers on the ground? They're doing their best, but they're getting beat up by both sides 
. We need to find a way to support them and have a more nuanced conversation about these issues 
.
.
this is soooo frustrating... can't they just wait for the investigation to figure out what happened before jumping all over each other? 
! I'm so frustrated when people make accusations like that without knowing the facts, you know? It's not fair to Alex Pretti's family or his colleagues at the hospital 
. We need to calm down and wait for the truth to come out before we start judging people 
.
.
it's not like they're already dealing with some pretty sketchy situations...
And don't even get me started on this "politicization" nonsense. I mean, come on, we're talking about people's lives here! We need to take a step back and think about how our words can affect others. 
We need to find a way to calm down the rhetoric and focus on actual solutions. Maybe that means more training for our law enforcement agencies or better support for people living in these communities? Idk, but whatever we do, let's just try to keep it real, you know? 
! I mean, come on, DHS Secretary Noem jumping straight to conclusions like that? 
It's just not right. What if Pretti was innocent? What if the agent made a mistake? 
And now we got ICE taking the lead in investigating... that's just red tape 
. We need some transparency here, you know? Open up the books on immigration policies and their impact on communities like Minneapolis. We can't have federal agents running around without accountability 
. The public is already divided on this issue, with only 46% supporting the Trump deportation campaign... what does that say about our priorities as a country? 
I don't think we should be rushing into judgment on anything until the investigation is done, you know? We need to keep an open mind here and not let our emotions get the best of us 
... what we need right now is some measured approach and transparency, not more politicking 
this whole thing is just so messed up... i mean, an innocent person gets killed by a border patrol agent and the secretary of DHS is already making claims about their intentions? it's like they're trying to spin the narrative before even getting all the facts. 
?! They're like, shooting people left and right without thinking about the consequences. I mean Alex Pretti was just an ICU nurse trying to do her job, and now he's dead 
.