Minnesota ICE Agents Issued New Enforcement Orders After Uproar Over Fatal Shootings
Federal immigration officers in Minnesota have received updated internal guidance that directs them to steer clear of “agitators” and focus their enforcement efforts on individuals with criminal records, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters. Under the new rules, officers are also expected to use megaphones to clearly announce each step of an arrest, part of a broader effort to reduce tensions during enforcement actions.
The operational shift comes in the wake of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis this month, which have sparked widespread public outcry and political criticism. The guidance represents a change from earlier, broader arrest strategies and aims to limit direct confrontations with protesters or bystanders.
Related US Senator Amy Klobuchar Launches Governor Bid as ICE Violence Engulfs Minnesota
An internal message to officers explicitly instructs them not to “communicate or engage with agitators,” noting that such interactions are unlikely to de-escalate situations and should be confined to issuing commands related to enforcement activities.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the updated guidance. The new directives reflect evolving enforcement tactics as federal authorities seek to balance immigration policy goals with public safety concerns in Minnesota.
“DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” an email outlining the guidance read. “It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other. The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.”
“We are moving to targeted enforcement of aliens with a criminal history. This includes arrests, not just convictions. ALL TARGETS MUST HAVE A CRIMINAL NEXUS,” the directive said.
The memo does not specify what actions would prompt commands or how officers should respond if people do not comply.
The policy shift follows the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operations, after President Trump ordered a large federal deployment to the city.
One of the victims was 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who was shot multiple times on Saturday after stepping in to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground by agents. His death came just weeks after another Minneapolis resident, 37-year-old Renée Good, was killed by an ICE officer during a separate incident.
Authorities initially characterized both individuals as dangerous, but those accounts have been challenged by video evidence and eyewitness testimony. The deaths have triggered political fallout in Washington, placing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem under intense scrutiny. Nearly 150 lawmakers have now publicly supported efforts to remove her, including calls for impeachment.
President Trump has stood by Noem despite the backlash. Asked about her future on Tuesday, he said, “I think she’s doing a very good job,” adding that he believes “the border is totally secure.”
Meanwhile, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who oversaw aggressive operations in Minneapolis and other cities, has been removed from his leadership role and is expected to either retire or return to a previous assignment.
Immigration enforcement in Minnesota will now be overseen by border czar Tom Homan. In a joint statement, the co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus said the Minneapolis tragedy and the threat of a government shutdown should serve as a turning point for both parties to finally work together on immigration reform.
Several lawmakers have also begun calling for changes in enforcement practices. New York Rep. Mike Lawler urged ICE and Customs and Border Protection to reevaluate their tactics, while Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis are currently the only GOP senators who have publicly called for Noem’s removal.
