A top Republican in the U.S. Senate is saying the public has lost trust in recent immigration enforcements especially following the shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R), says the Department of Homeland Security and ICE must ‘restore trust’ with the public after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Pretti , and he’s scheduled a public committee hearing to press the issue publicly.
"I saw no evidence. I saw a man that was retreating," Sen. Paul said about the shooting of Pretti on Jan. 24. "I mean, he went to the middle of the street. He didn't even obstruct traffic. He let a car go through as the agents advanced on him. He retreated to the side of the street. A woman is violently pushed to the ground, and he turns to help her, and that's when he is grabbed from behind."
Speaking on Sunday's "60 Minutes" with Scott Pelley, Paul said he’s watched the video of Pretti's shooting and doubts the administration’s account.
But the GOP senator stopped short of calling for the resignation of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem until a full investigation is complete.
"I saw no evidence of him assaulting the police," Paul added.
"Should Secretary Noem be fired," asked Pelley?
"I think we have to get through our hearing February 12th, and I think we have to see what the people who work for her say," says Paul. "But my advice to them is, if you come in and you're going to justify that this man was aggressively assaulting your police officers? That cannot be acceptable. And that's why they're lacking in trust."
Immediately after the shooting of Pretti, literally within hours, both Border Patrol Commandeer Greg Bovino and Sec. Noem made statements about Pretti that defied logic for anyone that saw the video.
“This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” Bovino said.
Noem claimed Pretti committed an “act of domestic terrorism” against immigration agents without evidence of that happening.
Last week, new video emerged that shows Pretti was forcefully taken to the ground by federal immigration agents after kicking out the tail light of their vehicle during a Minneapolis protest 11 days before he was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers.
Those new videos immediately rekindled the national debate about the death of Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, posted one of the videos on X and commented, “Just a peaceful legal observer.”
But 11 days later, video doesn't show a violent protest, or someone who could reasonably described as a domestic terrorist, something Paul says is clear.
Lat week, Paul announced that the heads of ICE, CBP and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will testify before the panel on Feb. 12. Paul publicly thanked Noem for helping arrange the hearing, but Democrats argue the secretary herself must testify.
"However, as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, you are ultimately responsible for the Department's actions," the Democratic lawmakers wrote, arguing that Noem's response to the shootings has caused a "breakdown" in public trust in federal law enforcement.
Paul told Pelley on '60 Minutes' he doubts the administration’s account of what happened, and wants a transparent investigation.
Following the shooting of Pretti, the Trump administration made changes to "Operation Metro Surge" leadership in Minnesota. Bovino and some Border Patrol agents were sent out of the state, and Sec. Noem was sent back to handle issues on the southern U.S. Border.
Instead, President Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan came to the Twin Cities, vowing that the work in the state was not finished, but also promising a more targeted and collaborative operation. He also asked local leadership for more support, and has spent significant time meeting with people in the state including Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with local law enforcement leaders.