Sen. McCormick talks immigration enforcement, shooting death, ICE funding during telephone town hall

Two separate investigations are underway into the Saturday shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti at the hands of Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, according to U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). 

During a telephone town hall on Tuesday evening, McCormick said he spoke with senior people in the Department of Homeland Security and was told the probes will be made public in the coming weeks, “which should give us some insight into what happened on the ground in Minneapolis.” 

McCormick described the shooting as a tragedy.

“I don’t understand all the facts of where the gun was and all that stuff, but I certainly think that we need to have a full and transparent investigation to make sure that the public knows because it’s really important that our law enforcement not only protects the public, but keeps its confidence,” McCormick said. “That’s the best way our law enforcement is going to be able to do their jobs well.”

Of the 11 calls McCormick fielded on Tuesday evening, five of them were related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding and law enforcement. Four callers argued against funding ICE. One, however, asked McCormick what can be done to ensure support for law enforcement. 

Some also argued that there should be a leadership change at the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Tuesday, who voted to confirm Kristi Noem as DHS secretary, joined his fellow Democrats in calling for Trump to fire her.

All seven of the Pennsylvania Democrats serving in the U.S. House have signed onto impeachment articles against Noem, although it is unclear if Fetterman supports that action. The effort would need Republican support, since the GOP controls both the House and Senate. 

As of Tuesday evening, GOP U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tom Tillis (R-NC) had called for Noem to step down. 

“I do think that the ICE mission is an incredibly challenging one and I think there’s ultimately a situation in Minneapolis that’s gotten out of control and I think we need to step back and learn from it and the enforcement mission is still critical, but I also think we want to try to deescalate the situation,” McCormick said. “That appears to be what President Trump and Gov. Walz are doing.”

Pretti, a Veterans Affairs nurse, was shot multiple times by immigration agents during a scuffle that erupted Saturday as he stepped between two women and an agent who was shoving them.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti, who had a pistol holstered in his waistband, “attacked” officers and “brandished” his weapon. But video footage appears to contradict that accusation, and does not show Pretti ever holding the firearm. He had a permit to carry the pistol legally.

Stephen Miller, a top White House aide who previously described Pretti as a “would-be assassin” backpedaled a bit, telling CNN on Tuesday that the Customs and Border Protection team in Minneapolis “may not have been following” proper protocol before the fatal shooting.

A few of McCormick’s GOP colleagues have also called for an investigation into the shooting, while the National Rifle Association, (NRA), which is largely supportive of conservative elected officials, also supports an investigation.

But the Trump administration is starting to face pressure from gun rights groups over comments made by the president and others that Pretti was dangerous because he was carrying a handgun and spare magazines. President Trump twice on Tuesday referred negatively to Pretti legally carrying a pistol. However, groups pointed out it’s common for gun owners with a concealed carry permit to also have extra magazines.

Despite the Minnesota shootings of Pretti and Renee Good, who was killed in her car earlier this month by agents, McCormick supports a DHS funding bill some Democrats are attempting to block. 

“The funding includes Border Patrol, it includes customs agents that you see in your airports, it includes the Coast Guard, and it includes ICE, which, of course, is just one small part of the budget and I do think we should not shut down our government or defund that,” McCormick said.

Prior to Pretti’s shooting death, the U.S. House voted 220-207 to advance the DHS funding bill, which included the support of seven Democrats. Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation voted along party lines, with the 10 Republicans backing it and seven Democrats opposed.

Republicans hold a majority in the U.S. Senate, but even if their delegation is united, they would need several Democrats to vote in support of the bill to reach a 60-vote threshold. But, Democrats have already said they have enough votes to block it.

McCormick predicts there will be some negotiations with Democrats over the spending proposal, but vowed to avoid a partial government shut down. 

“I’m not in favor of ever shutting down the government. It doesn’t matter what party is in power, but some people see that differently,” McCormick said.

Fetterman said he won’t vote against DHS funding, despite the Democratic U.S. House delegation urging him to vote no. 

Tuesday evening was McCormick’s 18th telephone town hall since being sworn in last year.