By Trendsetter Tribune 
President Donald Trump sharply escalated his confrontation with Democratic leaders on Sunday, issuing five sweeping demands to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, all Democratic governors and mayors nationwide, and Congress in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.
The demands mark a major expansion of the administration’s immigration enforcement push, coming amid intense backlash over Pretti’s death and growing protests in Minnesota. Trump framed the directive as a call for “formal cooperation” with federal authorities, accusing Democratic leaders of fueling “division, chaos, and violence” by resisting immigration enforcement.
In a statement, Trump called on state and local officials to hand over undocumented immigrants with criminal records to federal authorities, require local police to transfer all undocumented individuals arrested, actively assist federal agents in apprehensions, and partner with Washington on rapid deportations. He also urged Congress to immediately pass legislation ending sanctuary cities nationwide, calling them “the root cause of all of these problems.”
At the same time, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a late-night letter to Gov. Walz outlining conditions under which federal agents might reduce their presence in Minneapolis. Those conditions include turning over voter registration data to the Justice Department, repealing sanctuary policies, and sharing records tied to Medicaid and food assistance programs. Bondi blamed state and city leaders for unrest following federal operations and defended continued enforcement by citing sharp increases in reported attacks on ICE officers.
Minnesota leaders pushed back forcefully. Gov. Walz dismissed the administration’s account of the shooting as “nonsense” after reviewing video evidence and demanded the removal of federal agents from the state. Attorney General Keith Ellison said Minnesota plans to challenge federal operations in court, while Mayor Frey moved to seek emergency judicial relief and reiterated that ICE is barred from using city-owned property.
The shooting of Pretti — which follows the earlier killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in the same city — has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics. Pretti’s family described him as a compassionate ICU nurse and accused the administration of spreading false claims about his final moments.
With DHS funding battles looming in Congress and federal subpoenas already issued to Minnesota officials, the clash now stretches well beyond one city — signaling a broader, high-stakes showdown between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over immigration, policing, and federal authority.