Top White House aide Stephen Miller said Tuesday that federal agents involved in the Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti “may not have been following” proper protocol. The admission marks a notable shift from previous statements by Trump administration officials defending the actions.
“The White House provided clear guidance to DHS that the extra personnel sent to Minnesota for force protection should be used for conducting fugitive operations to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disruptors,” Miller said in a statement to CNN. “We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol.”
Miller’s remarks come after two deadly shootings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis this month, which sparked nationwide criticism of federal immigration enforcement tactics. The acknowledgment represents a softening in the administration’s messaging, which had initially portrayed Pretti as a threat.
Miller, a key architect of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, faced backlash for labeling Pretti an “assassin” in the hours after his death. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended her own statements, saying she acted “at the direction of the president and Stephen.” Noem claimed Pretti had “arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and kill law enforcement.”
Following the shootings, Noem has reportedly been sidelined from overseeing immigration operations in Minnesota. Border czar Tom Homan has taken a more active role, while lawmakers from both parties have called for Noem’s removal from her position at the Department of Homeland Security.
Miller also addressed claims he was responsible for Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino’s statement that Pretti intended to “massacre” agents. Bovino has since reportedly been removed from his post. “The initial statement from DHS was based on reports from CBP on the ground,” Miller said, emphasizing that the misinformation stemmed from agent reports rather than his direct orders.
Although Miller did not deny giving talking points to Noem, he maintained that her immediate post-shooting remarks were derived from reports by Customs and Border Protection agents present at the scene.
The shootings have raised broader concerns over the use of deadly force by federal agents and the administration’s handling of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Public scrutiny has increased as videos and witness accounts challenge the official narratives released immediately after the incidents.
Miller’s statement is likely to intensify debate over accountability, as both Democrats and some Republicans question the administration’s oversight of Customs and Border Protection operations. Critics have highlighted the risks of deploying heavily armed agents in civilian areas without strict adherence to protocol, citing the deaths of Pretti and another Minnesota resident as examples.
As federal authorities continue to investigate the events in Minneapolis, the White House faces mounting pressure to ensure clearer guidelines and stricter enforcement of operational procedures. Miller’s acknowledgment signals the administration may be responding to these calls, though the political fallout is expected to continue.
The Pretti shooting remains a flashpoint in discussions about U.S. immigration enforcement, use of lethal force, and the responsibilities of senior officials in supervising federal law enforcement agencies.
