OKLAHOMA CITY — A group of governors, led by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, is calling on the federal government to reassess their immigration enforcement policies.
Stitt, chair of the National Governors Association, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, vice chair of the organization, issued a joint statement Sunday calling for federal and state governments to work together and reset strategy following the death of a second Minnesotan by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“As governors, we urge leaders at all levels to exercise wisdom and consider a reset of strategy toward a unified vision for immigration enforcement,” Stitt, a Republican, and Moore, a Democrat, said in a statement. “We believe there are criminals in our country who must be held accountable, but moments like this demand thoughtful leadership, coordination, and clarity. Scenes of violence and chaos on our streets are unacceptable and do not reflect who we are.”
Across the country, including in Oklahoma, the Trump administration has ramped up deportation efforts amid growing protests. The Trump administration has focused heavily on Minnesota, which officials have said has the “worst of the worst” criminals in the country illegally. The federal government has sent over 3,000 federal agents there, five times the number of Minneapolis police officers.
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he is sending Tom Homan, the White House Border Czar, to Minneapolis. He also wrote that deportation efforts are going “peacefully and smoothly” in Republican-run cities and states, including Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Louisiana.
He said those states have had “zero protests, riots or chaos” because local police and ICE were “cooperating and working together.” Multiple media reports in those states show residents in those states are protesting immigration enforcement.
There have been three shootings by immigration officers in Minnesota in as many weeks, most recently on Saturday when 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti was killed.
The shootings have led to increased demonstrations and protests in Minnesota and in cities around the country.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said Pretti was armed and officers fired in an act of self-defense. Videos of the shooting, captured by bystanders, shows Pretti wrestled to the ground by multiple officers before more than 10 shots are fired.
Minneapolis’ chief of police has said Pretti was a lawful gun owner.
Earlier in the month, authorities said ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, 37, on Jan. 7 as Good was protesting. A week later, federal agents shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during what ICE called a “targeted traffic stop.”
Stitt and Moore, on behalf of the National Governors Association, asked for the federal government to work with state and local law enforcement with a “transparent strategy” and a unified approach.
“Clarity of purpose is essential to maintaining public trust, ensuring accountability, and avoiding unintended escalation,” they said. “The use of federal authority should be guided by a transparent strategy that complements — rather than supplants — state and local efforts to uphold the law.
Stitt also said on CNN that the death of Americans causes “deep concern” and called the situation a tragedy. He said Americans “don’t like what they’re seeing right now.”
“So what’s the goal right now,” he said. “Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want. We have to stop politicizing this. We need real solutions on immigration reform.”