Pete Hegseth defends ICE after Minneapolis shooting: ‘We have your back 100%’
WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly defended US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that resulted in the fatal shooting of a Minnesota man.
Hegseth, who was born and raised in the state, posted on the social media platform X that ICE personnel are “saving the country” and that federal authorities have strong institutional support from him and others in the administration.
Hegseth’s post came amid heightened political controversy and protests over the shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care nurse who was killed during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation.
Pete Hegseth backs ICE after fatal Minneapolis shooting
Hegseth’s remarks represent a strong show of support from a senior administration official for federal enforcement personnel amid a deeply divisive incident.
He wrote on X, “Thank God for the patriots of @ICEgov, we have your back 100%.” “You are SAVING the country.”
Thank God for the patriots of @ICEgov — we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 24, 2026
Shame on the leadership of Minnesota — and the lunatics in the street.
ICE > MN
He added, “Shame on the leadership of Minnesota and the lunatics in the street. ICE > MN”
The post drew attention online, with some users reposting and commenting on Hegseth’s statements, while others criticized the language and tone of the message.
Today, DHS law enforcement was conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 24, 2026
During the operation, an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. The officers attempted to disarm the… pic.twitter.com/i0bsQY3i5O
Federal officials have said a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots after Pretti allegedly approached with a handgun, while video shared by witnesses and some local officials raised questions about that account.
Satirical ICE post fuels backlash after shooting
The message supporting ICE was accompanied by a satirical image outlining steps to “avoid ICE,” including obeying federal and state law, not attacking ICE officers, and not being in the country illegally.
The pointers sarcastically described ways to avoid ICE and were meant to convey that people who remain in the country legally and follow the law will not be targeted by the agency.
The shooting in Minneapolis set off protests and stirred fresh arguments over how immigration laws are enforced.
Critics slammed the federal operation as overly aggressive, demanding that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection leave Minnesota.
Gov. Tim Walz: "Thank God we have video, because according to DHS, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against them or something. It's nonsense, people. It's nonsense and it is lies." pic.twitter.com/QNP3efX4hx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 24, 2026
Federal officials sought to portray the 37-year-old Minneapolis resident killed by Border Patrol agents on Saturday as a domestic terrorist, claiming he intended to “massacre” law enforcement, even as videos emerged that appeared to directly contradict that account. Those gathered near the site of the shooting Saturday night used words like “apocalyptic,” “disheartening,” and “horrifying” to describe their feelings.
“They want us to feel disheartened, to give up in these moments,” said Kevin Krahmer, according to NYT. “But I think the city is showing that we are going to be resilient in this moment, and we will rise to the occasion.”
