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Anger in Minnesota over Alex Pretti shooting

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing internal scrutiny over the latest developments in Minnesota as immigration raids continue, sources say. CBS News' Natalie Brand and Ian Lee report as tensions remain high in Minneapolis.
Jan 27 (05:54)

TRANSCRIPT FOR: “ANGER IN MINNESOTA OVER ALEX PRETTI SHOOTING, NOEM FACES SCRUTINY AND JOB SHIFT, SOURCES SAY”

VLADIMIR DUTHIERS:
00:00:39

We're going to begin our coverage at the White House. CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand joins us live now. Natalie, President Trump reportedly had a two-hour meeting with Kristi Noem yesterday. What do we know about that? Good morning, Vlad. Yes, CBS News confirmed that Noem was here at the White House and that she is facing some internal scrutiny within the administration. Faced questions about her handling of this shooting because, keep in mind, there's not only been a lot of scrutiny and backlash to the incident itself but also Noem and other administration officials' comments following that shooting in which some of the statements they were making contradicted bystander video and witness accounts. So there is this meeting at the White House, though sources tell CBS News that she is expected to keep her job but perhaps shift focus from these interior enforcement operations in major US cities to other priorities, such as the Southern border. And it comes as President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, has now been sent to Minneapolis to take the lead on the ground there. He is viewed as someone who can perhaps work with the Democratic leaders in the state, including Governor Tim Walz, also Mayor Frey in Minneapolis, and collaborate with them as this operation seems to shift tone and strategy, Vlad.

VLADIMIR DUTHIERS:
00:02:10

All right, let's talk about Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is considered a possible presidential contender for 2028. He joined us on CBS Mornings to discuss the immigration crackdown. Let's talk about what he had to say. So he was asked if some of these changes made that we've just learned about this morning are enough. And, essentially, Governor Shapiro said no, that the mission needs to fundamentally change. Take a listen to more of what he had to say. It seems like they've made some personnel changes, but they haven't changed their policy. This mission is broken. It must be terminated. I've not heard the president say just because Bovino is out or Noem is out, we're going to stop pulling people over because they have an accent. We're going to stop violating people's constitutional rights. We're going to stop engaging in tactics that do not comport with typical and responsible policing practices. They've said none of that. And Democratic Governor Shapiro, who, as you noted, could be a potential 2028 hopeful, also argued that the administration has, quote, "eviscerated trust between federal law enforcement and local communities." He also called on Congress to take a stand. And all of this could be coming to a head later this week when we're likely to see a big standoff over a DHS funding bill and a partial government shutdown, that a deadline is looming by Friday. Democrats pushing for a freeze in ICE funding and also policy changes to try to put guardrails on ICE tactics, Vlad.

VLADIMIR DUTHIERS:
00:03:53

All right, Natalie Brand for us at the White House. Natalie, thank you. CBS News correspondent Ian Lee is joining me now live from Minneapolis. So, Ian, do we have any indication yet how this operation is potentially expected to scale back in the next few days? Hi, Vlad. So there are really kind of three indicators we're looking at right now. First off, you have this top Border Patrol commander, Gregory Bovino, and some of his men leaving. That announcement made. Then you also have, from two sources at DHS confirming or telling CBS News, that the department is going to start withdrawing some of its agents from the area. But all this comes on the back a phone call between the president and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, where they said that the situation cannot continue. And so you do have all these indicators that things are winding down. But the government has said that they'll be done when they say they're done. So Operation Metro Surge looks like it may be winding down, but that will be, ultimately, up to the government to decide. And so how are people reacting to the news? Cautious optimism from some folks. This has been very heavy for this city. Talking to people, they haven't been out in the streets like we saw after George Floyd's killing, but this is still a city, for the most part, it's very well activated. There are communities that are coming together to provide food for people who may be in hiding and also provide just any of those essentials. So the community has been activated. A lot of people want to see ICE gone. They want these raids to stop. And so these are indicators that that could happen. But like I said, it ain't over til it's over, Vlad.

VLADIMIR DUTHIERS:
00:05:48

Yeah, for sure. Ian Lee reporting from Minneapolis for us. Ian, thank you.

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