U.S. First Lady Melania Trump has urged calm and peaceful protest after two fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, incidents that have sparked nationwide outrage and intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Melania called for unity and said she opposed violence, noting that President Donald Trump had spoken with Minnesota leaders to prevent further unrest. Her remarks marked a rare public intervention on a politically sensitive issue.
The shootings included the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse. Federal officials initially claimed Pretti approached agents with a handgun, but bystander video appears to show him holding a phone, with his weapon still tucked into his waistband. His family has rejected the official account, calling it misleading, while an internal watchdog review has not confirmed that he brandished a firearm.
The incidents have triggered protests across Minneapolis and drawn sharp political backlash. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the removal of ICE agents from Minnesota, while lawmakers from both parties are demanding independent investigations and greater accountability.
Adding to the pressure, Minnesota’s chief federal judge has summoned acting ICE director Todd Lyons to court to explain the agency’s repeated failure to comply with court orders related to detained immigrants, describing the situation as «extraordinary.»
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