Texas Governor Greg Abbott Demands White House Recalibrate ICE Following Minnesota Unrest Claims
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the White House must “recalibrate” Immigration and Customs Enforcement to restore respect for federal law enforcement, accusing Democrat leadership of inciting violent unrest during anti-ICE protests in Minnesota.
In an interview with conservative radio host Mark Davis on Monday following a second fatal shooting tied to anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis, Abbott placed blame on Minnesota’s Democratic officials for the tragedies. “They are law enforcement officers,” Abbott stated. “The White House needs to recalibrate what needs to be done to make sure respect is reinstilled — especially under the current circumstances.”
Abbott emphasized that ICE agents face undermining from political leaders who criticize enforcement while tolerating street-level chaos. He urged the Trump administration to adjust its strategy to allow ICE to carry out its mission without escalating confrontations. “I know they’re working on a game plan to recalibrate, maybe work from a different direction, to ensure they get back to what they wanted to do: remove people illegally in the country — particularly those who posed the most danger,” Abbott said.
Abbott directly named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as “literally inciting violence” by attacking President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. “The fights on the streets were fomented by the governor up there, by the mayor up there,” he asserted.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions over federal immigration operations in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent last weekend. While Democrats claim violence stems from aggressive federal raids and excessive force, Abbott dismissed this argument, stating the root issue lies with Democrat leaders who undermine law enforcement and fail to maintain order. “This is truly the problem in Minnesota. It’s more about the lack of leadership,” he said.
