Donald Trump signals interest in easing tensions in Minneapolis
Mr Trump said he and governor Tim Walz, whom he criticised for weeks, were on ‘a similar wavelength’ following a phone call.
President Donald Trump seemed to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minneapolis after a second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents, but there was little evidence on Wednesday of any significant changes following weeks of harsh rhetoric and clashes with protesters.
The strain was evident when Mr Trump made a leadership change by sending his top border adviser to Minnesota to take charge of the immigration crackdown. That was followed by seemingly conciliatory remarks about the Democratic governor and mayor.
Mr Trump said he and governor Tim Walz, whom he criticised for weeks, were on “a similar wavelength” following a phone call. After a conversation with mayor Jacob Frey, the president praised the discussion and declared that “lots of progress is being made”.
But on the city’s streets, there were few signs of a shift. Immigration enforcement operations and confrontations with activists continued on Wednesday in Minneapolis and St Paul.
A group of protesters blew whistles and pointed out federal officers in a vehicle on a north Minneapolis street. When the officers’ vehicle moved, a small convoy of activists followed in their cars for a few blocks until the officers stopped again.
When Associated Press (AP) journalists got out of their car to document the encounter, officers with the federal Bureau of Prisons pushed one of them, threatened them with arrest and told them to get back in their car despite the reporters identifying themselves as journalists. Officers from multiple federal agencies have been involved in the enforcement operations.
From their car, the AP journalists saw at least one person being pepper sprayed and one detained, though it was unclear if that person was the target of the operation or a protester. Agents also broke car windows.
Attorney general Pam Bondi, who is visiting Minnesota, said 16 people were arrested on Wednesday on charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement in the state. She said more arrests were expected.
“NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law,” Ms Bondi said in a social media post.
Messages seeking comment were left with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) and the Border Patrol.
In Minnesota federal court, the issue of Ice not complying with court orders came to the fore as chief judge Patrick Schiltz said the agency had violated 96 court orders in 74 cases this month.
“This list should give pause to anyone — no matter his or her political beliefs — who cares about the rule of law,” he wrote. “Ice has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”
Mr Schiltz earlier this week ordered Ice’s acting director to personally appear in his courtroom on Friday after the agency failed to obey an order to release an Ecuadorian man from detention in Texas. The judge cancelled the order after the agency freed the man.
The judge, who was appointed by president George W Bush, warned Ice that future noncompliance may result in orders requiring the personal appearances of acting director Todd Lyons or other government officials.
Ice did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Separately, another federal judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing federal officers from arresting and detaining resettled refugees in Minnesota. The order responded to a lawsuit challenging a new Homeland Security operation to to re-evaluate the refugee status of the nearly 5,600 people.
The order called for the immediate release of refugees detained in Minnesota and release within five days of those transferred to Texas.
Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller quickly slammed the judge’s decision on social media: “The judicial sabotage of democracy is unending.”
Hundreds gathered in the cold on Wednesday night for a solemn vigil to honour intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti, who was killed by immigration agents on Saturday. Some held candles and flowers as people sang and a band played at the spot where he was killed.
Harmonie Pirius, a registered nurse, said she had been feeling depressed, heartbroken and enraged and thought it would be good to get together with other medical professionals.
“It could have been any of us,” she said. “I mean, he was trying to help someone and that’s kind of what we’re all about.”
Earlier, Vietnam veteran Donnie McMillan placed a cardboard sign reading “In remembrance of my angel” at a makeshift memorial for Mr Pretti. Mr McMillan said he remembered seeing Mr Pretti during frequent visits to the Veterans Affairs hospital where he worked.
The Department of Homeland Security said two federal agents involved in Mr Pretti’s death have been on leave since the shooting happened.
US representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, spoke to journalists one day after a man attacked her during a town hall meeting by squirting a strong-smelling substance at her as she denounced the Trump administration.
Ms Omar said: “What is unfolding in our state is not accidental. It is part of a coordinated effort to target Black and brown, immigrant and Muslim communities through fear, racial profiling and intimidation.
“This administration’s immigration agenda is not about law enforcement — it is about making people feel they do not belong.”
