US First Lady Melania Trump Calls For ‘Unity’ Amid Minnesota ICE Arrests Unrest: 'Protest In Peace’

Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 20:27 IST

The US First Lady urged calm after protests erupted following the killing of an ICU nurse by ICE agents.

US First Lady Melania Trump’s comments came amid protests and heightened tensions over ICE operations in Minnesota. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday issued a call for unity and urged protesters to remain peaceful amid rising tensions in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of an ICU nurse by federal immigration agents.

In a rare political statement, Melania Trump appealed for calm as protests continued in Minneapolis after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents over the weekend. The incident marked the second fatal shooting involving federal officers in the state in less than a month, following the death of mother-of-three Renée Good.

“I’m calling for unity," the First Lady said. “I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they’re working together to make it peaceful and without riots."

Melania Trump made the remarks during an interview on Fox & Friends while promoting her documentary Melania.

She added: “I’m against violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace. We need to unify in these times."

Her remarks came as protests spread across Minneapolis, which has emerged as a focal point of President Donald Trump’s stepped-up immigration enforcement drive. Thousands of federal agents from ICE and Customs and Border Protection have been deployed in the city, drawing criticism from local leaders and civil rights groups.

Minneapolis has become the latest epicenter of Trump’s immigration crackdown — a top domestic priority this term — with the Department of Homeland Security’s federal agents carrying out patrols and raids.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has accused the Trump administration of sending untrained federal agents into the state, warning that the expanded presence risks further violence. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski also said the killings should raise serious questions about the adequacy of immigration enforcement training and operational guidelines.

According to AFP, ICE has more than doubled its workforce in recent years following a national recruitment drive backed by increased congressional funding. The expansion has led to a shortened training programme, prompting allegations that agents are being deployed without adequate preparation. The Department of Homeland Security has rejected those claims, saying training has been streamlined without compromising standards.

The unrest has also drawn judicial scrutiny. Minnesota’s chief federal judge, Patrick J Schiltz, has ordered the acting head of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in court later this week to explain the administration’s handling of immigration detentions and bond hearings in the state.

News world US First Lady Melania Trump Calls For ‘Unity’ Amid Minnesota ICE Arrests Unrest: 'Protest In Peace’

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