The fallout over federal agents shooting and killing two U.S. citizens in Minnesota last month as the Department of Homeland Security implemented focused immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has people across the country wondering if it could happen where they are.
Wyoming’s congressional delegation doesn't believe a repeat of the volatile clashes in Minneapolis is likely in the Cowboy State because state and local officials here cooperate with federal t efforts.
Wyoming Republican U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis said Minnesota officials’ efforts to hamper federal immigration enforcement are having a negative effect and that this isn’t happening in other parts of the country, including Wyoming.
“The situation in Minnesota is unique because ICE has successfully detained higher volumes of criminal illegal aliens in other major cities without incident,” she said. “This wouldn’t happen in Wyoming because our state and local officials understand cooperation with federal authorities keeps everyone safer and allows law enforcement to do their jobs effectively.”
On Jan. 7, agents shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good. On Jan. 24, federal officers shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti.
Protests of President Donald Trump’s policies and the tactics being used to enforce immigration law have taken place across the country, including in Cheyenne and Rock Springs.
Pushback From Administration-Friendly Crowd
Support for and opposition to the policies and methods used to enforce immigration laws have largely divided along predictable ideological lines.
The killing of Pretti, however, has some GOP leaders and pro-Second Amendment groups, normally favorable toward President Trump’s immigration policies, either criticizing the administration’s response or at least not giving it full-throated support.
Bystander video of the shooting appears to show Pretti getting between a woman and a federal agent who had pushed the woman to the ground.
The agent sprayed Pretti and the woman with what is presumed to be pepper spray before officers dragged Pretti to the ground. One of the officers then appeared to discover a handgun on Pretti and remove it, after which another officer drew his gun and fired on Pretti.
Pretti appeared in the video to have been holding only a cellphone.
Another video has since surfaced that shows an angry and vocal Pretti protesting previous deployments of federal agents.
Some congressional Republicans have called for a full and independent investigation of the shooting. At least one GOP U.S. senator, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, suggested that Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem should “be out of a job,” according to The Hill.
2nd Amendment Concerns
Noem initially referred to Pretti as a domestic terrorist and said he was brandishing a gun, wanting to do maximum damage to law enforcement.
President Trump said the killing was tragic, that he wants “an honorable and honest investigation,” but, “you can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns. You can’t do that."
Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said on X that, “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don’t do it!”
The National Rifle Association said in a statement that, “This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.
“The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.”
Delegation’s Take
Cowboy State Daily asked the offices of Wyoming’s congressional delegation, U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Lummis, and Rep. Harriet Hageman, where they stood on the Pretti shooting and how the administration is handling it, and for comment on the Second Amendment aspect.
Barrasso and Lummis lamented the loss of life.
“This is a tragedy no one wants to see happen, and I am encouraged President Trump is in communication with (Minnesota) Governor Walz and (Minneapolis) Mayor Frey and deployed (White House Border Czar) Tom Homan to work directly with local officials as the investigation continues,” Lummis said in a statement.
Barrasso said in a statement, “We’ve seen a tragic loss of life in Minneapolis. There is clearly a great deal of tension between law enforcement and the local community.”
He also called for cooperation in the ongoing investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation that is being led by the FBI.
Both senators called for more cooperation from Minnesota with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“The lack of cooperation — and outright hostility — from some Minnesota officials toward federal law enforcement is clearly contributing to the unrest and creating dangerous conditions on the ground,” Lummis said. “I would encourage Minnesota Democrats to lower the temperature of their rhetoric and cooperate with federal law enforcement.
"The American people have made it clear they want criminal illegal aliens removed from our communities, and that important work requires cooperation, not obstruction.”
“The Trump administration is working closely with the governor on a solution that keeps all Americans safe,” Barrasso said. "Minnesota needs to end their sanctuary jurisdictions. Doing so would allow for greater cooperation between federal and local officials to get criminals off the streets."
Hageman’s office did not respond by publication time.
But during a Thursday town hall meeting in Thermopolis, Hageman said she believes Pretti had a Second Amendment right to carry a gun, but not to “get into a physical altercation” with officers.
She told meeting attendees she believes the investigation into the Pretti shooting should be full, fair and transparent — “but I am not going to pre-judge what happened there.”
Hageman said she was saddened by the deaths in Minnesota.
Like Lummis, Hageman also pointed to Minnesota’s lack of cooperation as a reason for the “mayhem” there.
Wyoming's sheriffs since at least last year have been honoring ICE detainers on undocumented immigrants in county jails. Multiple Wyoming sheriffs have working agreements in place with the agency.
After the two fatal incidents President Trump removed Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino, who had helped oversee immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, and sent in Homan.
Coy Knobel can be reached at coy@cowboystatedaily.com.
