President Donald Trump and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have reached a major agreement after weeks of public conflict. They both agreed that the federal immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities needs to end immediately. This is a big change from their recent heated arguments and shows a serious effort to solve the crisis that led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
After their private phone call on Monday, both leaders gave positive updates about their conversation. President Trump wrote on his social media that “lots of progress” was being made. Mayor Frey confirmed this breakthrough, saying the president “agreed the present situation can’t continue.” He added that some federal agents involved in Operation Metro Surge are expected to start leaving the Twin Cities as early as Tuesday.
The calming down isn’t just happening in Minneapolis. President Trump also spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and the two had a friendly conversation. Governor Walz’s office called it a “productive call,” noting that the president agreed to consider reducing the number of agents sent to the state. According to Mediaite, Trump also agreed to direct the Department of Homeland Security to let state investigators conduct their own investigation into the recent fatal shootings.
Two tragic deaths pushed leaders to finally take action
This entire crackdown reached a breaking point two days before the phone calls, when Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis during a confrontation with protesters. The public anger was immediate and intense, especially after video footage went viral that appeared to contradict the administration’s version of what happened.
Sadly, Pretti’s death wasn’t the first. Another local anti-ICE activist, Renee Good, also 37 and a mother of three, was killed by a federal agent in her car on January 7, 2026. In both cases, the victims were U.S. citizens, yet federal officials quickly blamed them.
Bovino, for example, described Pretti as an attacker who wanted to “do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” However, verified video of the Pretti shooting shows him holding a phone, not a gun, as agents wrestled him down, contradicting the official claim that he approached them with a handgun.
After these tragedies, local officials were furious. Mayor Frey had criticized the official shooting narrative and delivered a strong message to federal authorities. He had declared that ICE should “get the f— out of Minneapolis” after Good’s death. Minnesota authorities even accused the federal government of trying to block state investigators, leading to a court battle over evidence collection.
The clearest sign of changing tensions is the shuffling of leadership. Gregory Bovino, the top U.S. Border Patrol official who became the public face of the crackdown, is being removed from his role as “commander at large.” While some sources suggest Bovino has been stripped of his title and will return to his former job in California before retiring soon, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin disputed those reports, stating that Chief Gregory Bovino has “NOT been relieved of his duties.”
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, will replace Bovino at the helm of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. President Trump noted that Homan has “not been involved” in the current crackdown. This operation has clearly lost political support.
A recent poll showed that public support for President Trump’s enforcement tactics was dropping after the Pretti shooting. Minneapolis isn’t the only city dealing with ICE enforcement in major urban areas, as other mayors across the country are taking their own stands on federal immigration operations.
Even a leading Republican candidate for governor, Chris Madel, dropped his bid on Monday, saying the crackdown had gone too far. He declared, “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.” Mayor Frey confirmed that he plans to meet with Tom Homan tomorrow to discuss the next steps and ensure that federal agents leaving the area are just the start of a complete withdrawal.
Published: Jan 27, 2026 11:45 pm