Minneapolis residents remain skeptical after immigration enforcement leadership change

Amna Nawaz:

Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump said today he's going to de-escalate tensions amid his aggressive immigration crackdown that's centered on Minneapolis.

Geoff Bennett:

And toward that end, the president said he wanted what he called an honest inquiry into the shooting death of Alex Pretti and had his border czar, Tom Homan, meet with state and local officials.

But at the same time, Mr. Trump said during a trip to Iowa today that the adjustments should not be seen as a pullback. And he again blamed Pretti for carrying a gun, which was legally permitted.

As special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, skepticism of President Trump's changes remains high in the Twin Cities, even after the departure of Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Gregory Bovino's final night in Minnesota was a loud one. Protesters turned up the volume outside what they believed was Bovino's hotel. Police arrested some demonstrators at the scene.

Bovino leaves a community far more on edge than it was when he arrived. Under his command, federal agents fatally shot another U.S. citizen on Saturday, Alex Pretti. It came two weeks after Renee Good was killed by ICE officers. This week, Bovino claimed without evidence that Pretti had been planning to -- quote -- "massacre law enforcement."

President Donald Trump:

We're doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I'm going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

In Washington today, PBS News' Liz Landers asked President Trump about his administration's characterization of Pretti, who had a state permit to carry a firearm.

Liz Landers:

Do you think he was acting as an assassin in Minneapolis?

President Donald Trump:

Who's that?

Liz Landers:

Mr. Pretti. Your deputy chief of staff said that.

President Donald Trump:

No. No. Without being checked, you can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just...

Liz Landers:

What about the Second Amendment?

President Donald Trump:

Listen, you can't walk in with guns. You can't do that, but it's just a very unfortunate incident.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Meantime, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on the president to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He appeared on MS NOW this afternoon.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY):

Kristi Noem is a despicable, corrupt, pathological liar. And in the event that she is not terminated, we are prepared to initiate impeachment proceedings against her in the House of Representatives.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

Back in Minneapolis, Bovino's replacement, White House border czar Tom Homan, arrived for meetings with Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz.

Outside, the streets were quieter than in recent days, Minnesotans paying tribute to their neighbors.

Christina Leeson, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Resident:

You're compelled to do something about it, or at least get closure and try to figure out how in the hell can this keep happening to this community?

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

And out-of-towners showing their support for the community and skepticism of today's leadership change.

Dan Crawford, Charlotte, North Carolina, Resident:

One is out. There's another one coming in. I don't know if things are going to change or not. I doubt it, the way this year has gone.

Fred de Sam Lazaro:

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Fred de Sam Lazaro in the Twin Cities.