White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a press briefing this afternoon amidst the turmoil and organized unrest in Minneapolis, following the fatal shooting of a left-wing individual by a Border Patrol agent.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning when Border Patrol agents fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti during a confrontation after he drew a firearm on them. This event has since ignited riots and escalated violence against law enforcement.
Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino stated that the shooting happened while federal agents attempted to apprehend Jose Huerta Chuma, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador with a history of domestic assault, disorderly conduct, and driving without a valid license.
In response to the unrest, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz did not address the actions of the armed individual obstructing law enforcement. Instead, he described the rioting Minnesotans as “peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights” and announced that he is compiling evidence for potential prosecution of ICE agents and officials involved in the incident.
Following Pretti’s death, anti-ICE protesters clashed with law enforcement, setting fires and establishing an “autonomous zone” after overwhelming police forces in Minneapolis.
Federal agents have faced intense violence, including one incident where a rioter bit off an agent’s finger.
As reported by The Gateway Pundit, former President Trump reacted to the situation on Sunday, outlining demands for Governor Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Democratic leaders nationwide. He urged Congress to “immediately pass legislation to END Sanctuary Cities, which he claims are the root cause of these issues.”
Additionally, the Trump Administration has placed approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota, as President Trump considers invoking the Insurrection Act. Minnesota National Guard troops have also been activated to assist local law enforcement.
The briefing is set to commence at 1 PM ET.
Watch live below:
