DHS response to Minneapolis capturing sparks inner backlash: sources

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Deep inner divisions have emerged inside federal immigration enforcement over how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is dealing with the general public fallout and messaging after a lethal Border Patrol capturing in Minneapolis, Fox Information has discovered.

Greater than half a dozen federal regulation enforcement officers concerned in immigration enforcement inform Fox Information there may be rising frustration with how senior officers have framed the incident publicly, fueling inner debates about tone, technique and credibility as scrutiny intensifies.

The capturing occurred throughout a morning immigration enforcement operation Saturday, when a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and Veterans Affairs intensive care unit nurse. Authorities say Pretti was armed with a handgun and two magazines.

Within the hours and days that adopted, DHS officers publicly described Pretti as a home terrorist and stated he was making an attempt to "inflict most harm" on federal brokers or perform a "bloodbath," language that has drawn inner criticism from throughout the division, Fox Information is advised.

VANCE CALLS MINNEAPOLIS UNREST 'ENGINEERED CHAOS' AFTER DEADLY SHOOTING

A lady blows her whistle at U.S. Border Patrol brokers at a gasoline station in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 21, 2026. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)

Officers say multiple videos that later emerged have known as into query the DHS narrative, fueling frustration amongst brokers who consider senior officers moved too rapidly to characterize the incident earlier than all info had been recognized.

The inner disputes, officers say, have been damaging from a public relations and morale standpoint, eroding belief and credibility and intensifying broader debates throughout the administration over how DHS management handles high-profile, politically charged incidents.

The officers who spoke with Fox Information stated they help the mass deportation agenda , although they've severe hesitations in regards to the messaging and the way the agenda is being carried out.

GOP LAWMAKER RENEWS OVERSIGHT HEARING REQUEST OF DHS AGENCIES FOLLOWING FATAL SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS

Federal brokers fireplace tear gasoline at protestors on Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures)

Some additionally expressed frustration that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is routinely blamed for the actions of the Border Patrol, which is a separate company.

Some officers described DHS’ response to the capturing as "a case research on how to not do disaster PR," with one saying they're so "fed up" that they need they might retire, one other saying "DHS is making the scenario worse," and one other including that "DHS is flawed" and "we're dropping this warfare, we're dropping the bottom and the narrative."

Fox Information reached out to DHS for touch upon considerations that its rhetoric and communications might have broken the company’s credibility.

BORDER PATROL-INVOLVED SHOOTING REPORTED IN MINNEAPOLIS

Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem participates in a roundtable dialogue with native ranchers and U.S. Customs and Border Safety staff in Brownsville, Texas, on Jan. 7. (Michael Gonzalez/Getty Picture)

"We have now seen a extremely coordinated marketing campaign of violence towards our regulation enforcement," DHS stated in an announcement to Fox Information. "This particular person dedicated a federal crime whereas armed as he obstructed an lively regulation enforcement operation. As with all scenario that's evolving, we work to offer swift, correct data to the American folks as extra data turns into obtainable."

Officers say these inner frictions have now escalated, with widespread criticism that the aggressive techniques pushed by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem are eroding public help for the mass deportation agenda and placing federal brokers in danger.

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Fox Information beforehand reported in October that deep inner friction had emerged throughout the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort, with competing camps inside DHS divided over enforcement priorities, techniques and the way aggressively to hold out deportations.