How bad was Alex Pretti's killing for the Trump administration? New data tells us

[Dulcinea]

(CNN) The Trump administration on Wednesday delivered its surest sign yet that it’s de-escalating its highly controversial immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Tom Homan, the White House border czar who recently took over the operation, said the administration is “immediately” drawing down 700 federal officers — a huge chunk of the 3,000 agents that have been sent. Homan cited more cooperation from local authorities in apprehending undocumented immigrants from jails, but those local authorities have disputed the claims about their supposed lack of cooperation.

Indeed, the more likely reason for the drawdown appears to be politics — the killing of Alex Pretti a week and a half ago in an encounter with federal agents made the situation untenable for the administration — and now it’s backing off, at least somewhat.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/politics/alex-pretti-shooting-minneapolis-crackdown-polls

[sboatcar]

1. They're still kidnapping people and breaking into apartment buildings without warrants

The actual situation on the ground has changed very little. It appears to all be smoke and mirrors.

[Ocelot II]

2. They aren't backing off; they're just getting sneakier.

They're still all over the city, and now they're trying to blend in using less obvious vehicles and clothing. They hang around schools. They're just using different methods.

[markodochartaigh]

5. "They hang around schools."

To be fair, considering the current regime's sexual preferences, hanging around schools may be the official policy.

[slightlv]

7. Which is why anyone hanging around schools like that

should be reported the police at the very first minute they're seen. Not only is ICE a hateful, out of control menace, but they're encouraging other evil men to do the same type of thing, sans the benefit of any kind of a badge or employment contract. These people are just evil people who want to do evil to regular people.. especially people of color, immigrants, children, and women. A report of a disreputable individual hanging around schools should be on everyone's 911 dial list.

[CousinIT]

3. Not bad enough, apparently. n/t

[markodochartaigh]

4. So, instead of sending 40 agents to kick down doors

they are sending 30?
And I'm certainly not disparaging the outrage over the killing of a fellow White male nurse, but the outrage does seem a lot greater than when ICE was killing Hispanic people.

[underpants]

6. Their Fox News state media isn't even working

While 54% of Republicans said the use of force against Good was “necessary” back in mid-January, that number dropped all the way to 33% on Pretti’s killing.

(Another 24% of Republicans said the force against Pretti was “excessive,” while a plurality — 43% — said they weren’t sure.)

And again, Republicans were the big movers. While 77% of them said the shooting of Good was “justified,” just 55% say the same of Pretti.