Facing mounting backlash over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Trump urged Democratic governors and mayors to cooperate with national immigration enforcement and end sanctuary city policies.
Amid escalating political tensions,
US President Donald Trump issued a public call urging Democratic governors, mayors and local law enforcement to back his administration’s immigration enforcement efforts — including handing over “criminal illegal aliens” to federal authorities and ending sanctuary city policies.
The appeal came as pressure mounted for a thorough investigation into the killing of 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse
Alex Pretti, who was shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on Saturday during an enforcement operation.
Trump urges cooperation on immigration enforcement
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump said he was “hereby calling on Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor in the United States of America to formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence.” He outlined several points, including that Governor Walz and Mayor Frey should “turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, along with all Illegal Criminals with an active warrant or known Criminal History, for Immediate Deportation.”
Trump also said “State and Local Law Enforcement must agree to turn over all Illegal Aliens arrested by Local Police” and that “Local Police must assist Federal Law Enforcement in apprehending and detaining Illegal Aliens who are wanted for Crimes.” He added that “Democrat Politicians must partner with the Federal Government to protect American Citizens in the rapid removal of all Criminal Illegal Aliens in our Country.” In the post he cited places such as Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., saying some Democrats there have cooperated, “resulting in safer streets for ALL.”
Call to end sanctuary cities
Trump urged the
United States Congress to “immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities, which is the root cause of all of these problems,” and said American cities should be “Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation’s Laws.”
“All of these requests are rooted in COMMON SENSE, and will provide the best possible circumstances to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he wrote, adding that “The Trump Administration is standing by, and waiting for ANY Democrat to do the right thing, and work with us on these important matters of MAKING AMERICA SAFE like it is in all sections of our Country where we are, together with Local Leadership, participating and involved.”
🚨New from President Trump: pic.twitter.com/LkyDWMWO5F
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 25, 2026
Minneapolis shooting intensifies scrutiny
The call came as demands intensified for a full investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and US citizen who was shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. Pretti’s death during an immigration enforcement action has sparked widespread calls for accountability and questions over the conduct of federal agents.
Bystander videos have circulated online showing the 37-year-old, who worked at a VA hospital, holding a phone and not a weapon before he was shot.
Federal officials have said agents fired in self-defence when Pretti intervened in a confrontation between an immigration officer and a woman on a city street. Authorities claim Pretti was armed, though multiple bystander videos do not appear to show him holding a weapon at the time. Minneapolis police have confirmed that Pretti had a valid permit to carry a handgun.
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