Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday called on the federal government to reassess its approach to immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of a demonstrator by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis.
Abbott made the remarks during an interview on The Mark Davis Show, saying federal officials should “recalibrate” immigration operations to restore public respect for law enforcement. He said ICE officers are law enforcement officials and that the White House must take steps to ensure public confidence in their actions.
The comments followed the killing of Alex Pretti, who was shot during a demonstration in Minneapolis. Reports said ICE officers restrained Pretti before one officer fatally shot him. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Abbott placed responsibility for the unrest on Democratic leaders in Minneapolis and Minnesota, accusing them of failing to maintain order. He contrasted the situation with Texas, which he said leads the nation in ICE removals without experiencing similar protests.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire also addressed the shooting, saying his administration is handling immigration issues responsibly and avoiding actions that could lead to unrest. Speaking on Hello Houston, Whitmire said cities across the country are experiencing turmoil but that Houston is focused on maintaining stability.
Texas Democratic leaders condemned the shooting and criticized ICE operations. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who is running for governor, said in a statement on X that the killing reflected broader problems with federal immigration enforcement.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico, both Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, criticized ICE during a debate held hours after the shooting. Crockett cited her opposition to increased ICE funding and support for impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Talarico said he supported holding individual ICE agents accountable for alleged abuses and reconsidering agency funding.
Eight members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus have backed a resolution calling for Noem’s impeachment, citing concerns over ICE operations.
Republican officials defended federal enforcement efforts and criticized Minnesota leadership. President Donald Trump announced he would send White House border adviser Tom Homan to Minneapolis to report back on the situation. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn praised the move and said local officials failed to contain unrest.
Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized Democratic lawmakers for their comments about ICE. Cornyn cited a Department of Homeland Security statement saying Pretti had a firearm at the time of the shooting, while analysts noted that officers had reportedly taken the weapon from him before the shooting.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz described the shooting as tragic but said responsibility lay with Minnesota leaders. He said he would wait for the results of an investigation before offering further comment. Other Texas Republicans, including Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Troy Nehls, have not publicly commented on the incident.
