United States President Donald Trump says he does not want to see people getting killed on the streets of the United States but will not back down from efforts to deport "violent criminal illegal aliens" from Minnesota.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefed reporters after the killing of 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, on Saturday by federal officers drew outrage from Americans. It was the second fatal shooting of a US citizen in Minnesota this month.
"Let's be clear about the circumstances which led to that moment on Saturday. This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota for weeks," Leavitt said.
Video from the scene, verified by Reuters, contradicts the Trump administration's account that immigration agents fired in self-defence after Pretti approached them with a handgun.
Footage shows Pretti holding a phone — not a gun — as agents wrestle him to the ground. It also shows officers removing a firearm stored near his waistband after he was subdued, moments before they fatally shot him. Pretti was a licensed gun owner.
Leavitt said Trump "will never back down from his promise to deport violent criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again, and he welcomes all cooperation in that effort."
'On a similar wavelength'
In a sharp reversal, Trump said on Monday he was "on a similar wavelength" with the Democratic governor of Minnesota.
The surprise comments on social media by Trump after what he described as a "very good call" with Minnesota governor Tim Walz could indicate a de-escalation of his immigration crackdown in the state, as public polls show waning support for his approach to immigration.
Walz and other Democratic leader have fiercely opposed the Trump administration's surge of immigration agents to Minnesota, which they have characterised as a lawless invasion that puts public safety at risk.
Massive street protests have also been held in below-freezing temperatures.
Trump, for his part, has spent the past month accusing Walz of incompetence for failing to stop a welfare-fraud scandal in the state.
Walz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Leavitt called on Minnesota political leaders to turn over illegal immigrants in jails to federal authorities, along with any illegal aliens with active warrants or known criminal histories for immediate deportation.
She said Trump wants Congress to immediately pass legislation ending policies that some cities have in providing sanctuary to undocumented border crossers.
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