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A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, a sign that the Trump administration’s accounting of events may face bipartisan scrutiny.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino sought testimony from leaders at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, saying “my top priority remains keeping Americans safe.”
A host of other congressional Republicans, including Rep Michael McCaul of Texas and Sens Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, pressed for more information. Their statements, in addition to concern expressed from several Republican governors, reflected a party struggling with how to respond to Saturday’s (January 24, 2026) fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a VA hospital.
The killing has raised uncomfortable questions about the GOP’s core positions on issues ranging from gun ownership to states’ rights and trust in the federal government.
Mr. Cassidy, who is facing a Trump-backed challenger in his re-election bid, said on social media that the shooting was “incredibly disturbing” and that the “credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.”
He pushed for “a full joint federal and state investigation.” Mr. Tillis, who is not seeking re-election, urged a “thorough and impartial investigation” and said “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.”
Ms. Murkowski called for an investigation and added that “ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties.” Mr. Collins, the only incumbent Republican senator facing re-election in a state Democrat Kamala Harris carried in 2024, said a probe is needed “to determine whether or not excessive force was used in a situation that may have been able to be diffused without violence.”
While calling for protesters to “keep space” from law enforcement and not interfere, Mr. Collins said federal law enforcement must “recognise both the public’s right to protest and the highly charged situation they now face.” Even Sen Pete Ricketts, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, called for a “prioritized, transparent investigation.”
“My support for funding ICE remains the same,” the Nebraska Republican, who is up for re-election, said online. “But we must also maintain our core values as a nation, including the right to protest and assemble.”
Mr. Trump and other administration officials remained firm in their defence of the hard-line immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis, blaming Democrats in the state along with local law enforcement for not working with them.
In a lengthy social media post on Sunday (January 25) evening, Mr. Trump called on Minnesota’s Democratic leadership to “formally cooperate” with his administration and pressed Congress to ban so-called sanctuary cities.
White House likely to face at least some GOP pushback
Mr. Trump has enjoyed nearly complete loyalty from fellow Republicans during his first year back in the White House. But the positions staked out in the wake of the shooting signal the administration will face at least some pushback within the party in its swift effort to define Pretti, who protested Mr. Trump’s immigration crackdown, as a violent demonstrator.
Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller issued social media posts referencing an “assassin” and “domestic terrorist.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti showed up to “impede a law enforcement operation.”
At a minimum, some Republicans are calling for a de-escalation in Minneapolis.
Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the shooting was a “real tragedy” and Mr. Trump needs to tell Americans what the “end game” is.
“Nobody likes the feds coming to their states,” Mr. Stitt said. “And so what is the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want.”
He added: “Right now, tempers are just going crazy and we need to calm this down.”
Vermont Gov Phil Scott said the shooting was “not acceptable.”
“At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training and leadership,” he said in a post. “At worst, it’s deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens.”
Echoing criticism that local law enforcement isn’t cooperating with federal officials, Rep James Comer, R-Ky, suggested the administration focus its immigration efforts elsewhere.
“If I were President Trump, I would almost think about if the mayor and the governor are going to put our ICE officials in harm’s way and there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives or whatever, then maybe go to another city and let the people of Minneapolis decide do we want to continue to have all these illegals?” he told “Sunday Morning Futures” on the Fox News Channel. “I think the people of Minnesota would rebel against their leadership.”
A sensitive moment for the GOP
Pretti’s killing comes at a sensitive moment for the GOP as the party prepares for a challenging midterm election year. Mr. Trump has fomented a sense of chaos on the world stage, bringing the NATO alliance to the brink last week as he pushed Denmark to cede control of Greenland to the United States while also intensifying a dispute with Canada’s Prime Minister. Domestically, Mr. Trump has struggled to respond to widespread affordability concerns.
Published – January 26, 2026 08:34 am IST
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Republican calls grow for deeper investigation into fatal Minneapolis shooting
