The U.S. Vice President has attributed ongoing demonstrations, which follow a second federal shooting this month, to the actions of activists and local authorities.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has stated that the protests and civil unrest in Minneapolis stem from what he termed “engineered chaos.”
The city has experienced several days of protests following a contentious federal immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deployed thousands of agents in its most extensive interior operation to date, targeting the apprehension of undocumented immigrants. Tensions have intensified further due to two fatal shootings involving federal agents in January.
The most recent event occurred on Saturday, when U.S. Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care nurse.
“This degree of engineered chaos is specific to Minneapolis,” Vance posted on X on Sunday, alleging that what he referred to as far-left agitators were collaborating with local officials to fuel the unrest after the shooting.
Pretti’s death marks the second fatal shooting involving federal agents in the city this month, coming after the January 7 killing of Renee Good during a prior enforcement operation, and has ignited protests and broad condemnation.
The DHS reported that Pretti advanced towards officers with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him, leading an agent to discharge their weapon in self-defense. Nevertheless, online video footage reportedly shows Pretti holding a phone just before he was tackled and shot. This account has been supported by eyewitness testimonies cited by numerous media outlets.
Local authorities, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have denounced the shooting and expressed disapproval of the increased federal presence in the city, with both advocating for the withdrawal of agents.
Protesters have engaged in confrontations with law enforcement and called for impartial inquiries into the application of deadly force. The reactions from political figures have shown significant divergence.
Numerous national Democratic figures have voiced criticism regarding federal enforcement strategies and raised concerns about the use of lethal force, whereas Republican officials, such as Vance and U.S. President Donald Trump, have defended the agents and ascribed the unrest to shortcomings in local governance and political instigation.