Deputy AG Blanche calls federal agents ‘humane’ amid scrutiny over Minneapolis shootings

WASHINGTON, DC: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday, January 25, that federal agents have acted “humanely” despite mounting criticism of immigration enforcement operations and the use of force in Minneapolis and other cities.

In an NBC News, 'Meet the Press', interview, Blanche addressed questions about recent incidents in Minnesota, including protesters being pepper-sprayed, a 5-year-old detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and a US citizen removed from his home in winter conditions while only partially clothed, asserting that agents face difficult conditions and are performing their duties appropriately. 

Todd Blanche plays down widespread criticism against ICE agents 

When asked by moderator Kristen Welker if federal agents were acting humanely, Blanche replied, “Yes, our agents are acting humanely. A very difficult job without local support.”

He added that federal officers are operating under intense pressure, often without cooperation from state or local authorities.  

“Their jobs are very, very difficult. It is a very difficult place to be going out and trying to arrest these violent felons with no support from local law enforcement, with no support from the governor,” he said.

He argued that critics were unfairly highlighting a few controversial incidents while ignoring the broader scope of enforcement.

“There are thousands of arrests, and you’ve identified two or three things that are pointed to as being wrong or being too aggressive or not being appropriate. That’s not fair to the men and women that are doing this every day,” Blanche said.

Fatal shooting of Alex Pretti intensify protests

Blanche’s remarks followed the fatal federal agent shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, the second such deadly encounter in the city in recent weeks, which has fueled protests and intensified national security concerns about immigration enforcement tactics. 

Eyewitness video of Pretti’s shooting appears to challenge the administration’s account. The footage shows Pretti moving toward a person who had been pushed down by federal agents. An officer then appears to spray Pretti, pull him to the ground, and surround him with other agents before shots are fired.

In the earlier case, Good was shot and killed while in her car. Witnesses said she appeared to be attempting to drive away from federal officers. Administration officials have said the officer fired in self-defense, believing he was in danger near the front of the vehicle.

Blanche questions the role of local police 

Blanche repeatedly stressed that local law enforcement should support federal immigration operations, arguing that cooperation could reduce chaos and risk.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said the city has roughly 600 police officers, compared with about 3,000 federal immigration agents in the area, a disparity that criticized by city leaders and activists. An investigation is underway into Pretti’s death

Welker pressed Blanche on whether Pretti had been disarmed before he was shot, citing witness video and public concerns.

“I do not know, and nobody else knows either,” Blanche said. “That’s why we’re doing an investigation.”

Local officials confirmed that Pretti was legally allowed to carry a firearm. Blanche noted that lawful gun ownership is not the issue, but emphasized the perspective of officers in tense situations. “There’s nothing wrong with anybody lawfully carrying firearms,” he said.

“But whether he was disarmed or whether he pulled the gun on law enforcement, whether law enforcement saw him go for the gun-what they have to do is they have to protect themselves. They have to protect the public around them,” he added.