Morning Brief: Trump Administration Retreats After ICE Shooting, Meta Restricts ICE Content, Ukraine War Casualties Near Two Million

Trump administration scales back ICE posture after Minneapolis shooting

The Trump administration has begun pulling back elements of its immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents, marking a shift after initially offering an unqualified defense of the operation. According to federal disclosures and internal Homeland Security reporting, two officers discharged their weapons during the January 24 encounter, a detail confirmed to Congress as public scrutiny intensified.

Early statements from the Department of Homeland Security described Pretti as approaching agents while armed and resisting commands. Subsequent reporting, eyewitness video, and internal notifications complicated that account, indicating that the confrontation escalated rapidly after agents used pepper spray and attempted to restrain him. DHS has not released full-body-worn camera footage, citing ongoing investigations, but acknowledged that both officers fired their weapons during the encounter.

As pressure mounted from state officials, lawmakers, and the public, the administration quietly adjusted its posture. Senior Border Patrol leadership overseeing Minneapolis operations was reassigned, and federal authorities confirmed that some agents have begun drawing down from the city. President Donald Trump designated former ICE acting director Tom Homan to assume federal coordination duties in Minnesota, replacing the previous command structure that had overseen the enforcement surge.

The shift followed criticism from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis officials, who said they were not fully briefed on the scope or tactics of federal operations prior to the shooting. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, was the second American killed by federal immigration agents in the region in recent weeks, intensifying questions about rules of engagement and oversight.

The administration’s messaging has also softened. Trump, who initially blamed Democratic leadership for “chaos” and publicly defended the agents involved, has avoided repeating those claims in recent statements. DHS officials have emphasized internal reviews and cooperation with investigations rather than asserting that Pretti posed an imminent threat. Bipartisan calls for transparency continue, including from some Republican lawmakers who said the administration moved too quickly to justify lethal force.

Meta blocks ICE-related links as scrutiny of enforcement grows

Meta has begun restricting links to a third-party website that compiles information on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol personnel, following a surge of public attention tied to recent federal enforcement actions. The website, known as ICE List, aggregates publicly available data from sources such as LinkedIn and professional directories and gained widespread circulation in the days after the Minneapolis shooting.

Users reported that links to the site were blocked across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, with platform notices citing violations of policies related to sharing personal information. Meta said the action was taken under existing rules prohibiting the distribution of what it defines as personally identifiable information, even when drawn from public records.

The site’s creator said links had circulated on Meta platforms for months without restriction before the sudden enforcement. Initially, blocked posts were labeled as spam; later notices referenced broader community standards. Meta declined to explain why similar people-search websites remain accessible on its platforms, saying only that enforcement decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

The timing of the restriction drew attention as criticism of ICE and Border Patrol intensified following multiple fatal encounters involving federal agents. Civil liberties groups and digital rights advocates said the move could reduce the visibility of online efforts to document federal enforcement activity, while Meta maintained that the decision was unrelated to politics or current events.

Meta has faced increasing pressure from both lawmakers and advocacy groups over how its platforms handle politically sensitive content tied to law enforcement and public safety. The company said it continues to review enforcement policies as situations evolve, but gave no indication that the restriction would be reversed.

Study estimates nearly two million military casualties in Ukraine war

Nearly two million Russian and Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, according to new estimates cited by Western analysts and security officials. The figures, drawn from a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and referenced by European and U.S. officials, place the conflict as the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.