How damaging was Alex Pretti’s killing for the Trump administration?

A sign with a picture of Alex Pretti is seen in the snow covered makeshift memorial, set up in the area where he was recently shot and killed by federal immigration agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

The Trump administration is reducing federal immigration agents in Minneapolis after polls showed widespread backlash, including among Republicans, over the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents and concerns that ICE tactics have become too aggressive.

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The Trump administration’s decision to scale back its large federal immigration operation in Minneapolis appears to have been driven by more than operational concerns. New national polling suggests the political fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents was significant, and unusually broad, according to a CNN analysis.

On Wednesday, White House border advisor Tom Homan announced that about 700 federal officers would be withdrawn from Minneapolis. That represents a substantial reduction from the roughly 3,000 agents deployed during the crackdown. The administration cited improved cooperation from local authorities, though local officials have disputed that characterization.

President Donald Trump acknowledged the political pressure, telling NBC News that his administration might need to use “a softer touch,” while maintaining a tough stance on crime.

What the polls show

Two major surveys conducted entirely after Pretti’s death, by Ipsos and Quinnipiac University, offer the clearest snapshot yet of public reaction.

An Ipsos poll found that 55 percent of Americans said Pretti’s killing involved “excessive force,” compared to just 16 percent who described it as “necessary.” That margin was even more decisive than public reaction to the earlier killing of Renee Good in January, when Americans said by 52 percent to 25 percent that the force used had been excessive.

The shift is most striking among Republicans. In mid-January, 54 percent of Republicans said the force used in Good’s case was necessary. After Pretti’s death, that number fell to 33 percent. Nearly a quarter of Republicans said the force was excessive, while many others said they were unsure.

The Quinnipiac poll showed similar movement. Registered voters said Pretti’s shooting was “not justified” by a 62 percent to 22 percent margin. Among Republicans, support for the agents’ actions declined notably compared to earlier polling.

Broader warning signs

The data also shows growing unease with the administration’s immigration tactics more generally. Ipsos found that 62 percent of Americans now believe Immigration and Customs Enforcement has gone “too far.” Among Republicans, that figure rose sharply within a week.

Other surveys underscore the trend. A recent Reuters Ipsos poll showed Trump’s approval rating on immigration at 39 percent, a low point across both of his terms. A Fox News poll found that 59 percent of registered voters, including more than a quarter of Republicans, described ICE as “too aggressive.”

Why this matters politically

Trump’s political strategy has often relied on pushing policies that may divide the broader electorate but energize his base. The response to Pretti’s killing suggests that even that base may have limits when it comes to high profile uses of force.

For the administration, the drawdown in Minneapolis signals recognition that the episode was becoming a political liability. The polling indicates the backlash was not confined to Democrats or independents. It cut into Republican support as well.

With immigration remaining central to Trump’s agenda, the question now is whether this recalibration marks a temporary adjustment or a more durable shift in approach.