Two U.S. citizens shot dead by federal agents in three weeks.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is demanding answers and calling Trump's operation "organized brutality."
But Ron DeSantis just said two words about Minnesota that sent Tim Walz into a fit of rage.
DeSantis Blames Walz for Creating "Toxic Environment"
Ron DeSantis watched Minneapolis descend into chaos and decided he'd seen enough.
The Florida Governor called out Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for creating a "toxic environment" around ICE agents trying to enforce federal law.
"They're creating a toxic environment where they're really inciting people to go out and show hostility to the agents who are doing this," DeSantis said during a Monday press conference. "That is not a recipe for success."
DeSantis wasn't pulling punches about the contrast between Florida and Minnesota.
"What we're not doing is what you have people like Walz and this mayor doing, which is basically trying to sabotage the enforcement operations," he explained.
The timing couldn't be more pointed.
Border Patrol agents shot and killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday morning in Minneapolis.
Pretti was the second U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, following the January 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good.
Multiple bystander videos show Pretti holding only his phone while trying to help protesters who'd been pushed to the ground by agents.
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Federal officials claim Pretti "attacked" agents with a handgun.
Video evidence tells a different story – agents pepper-sprayed Pretti, wrestled him to the ground, removed his gun, then shot him in the back at least ten times in five seconds.
DeSantis didn't address the two shootings directly.
His message was clear: Florida's cooperation with ICE hasn't led to dead citizens in the streets.
Florida Reports Nearly 20,000 Illegal Alien Removals Under Trump
DeSantis backed up his criticism by pointing to Florida's results.
The Governor reported that Florida law enforcement has arrested "almost 20,000" illegal aliens in roughly the last ten months.
"It's paid big-time dividends for the state of Florida," DeSantis said during an appearance in The Villages on Monday.
Florida's Operation Tidal Wave represents the first program of its kind in the nation.
The initiative allows Florida state agencies to work directly with ICE through 287(g) agreements.
More than 10,000 arrests came through Operation Tidal Wave alone, with county sheriffs accounting for another 9,600 apprehensions.
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DeSantis ticked off the policies that separate Florida from sanctuary cities.
Florida law enforcement notifies DHS when criminals in the country illegally are released from prison.
The state uses E-Verify to prevent illegal aliens from getting jobs.
DeSantis repealed in-state tuition for illegal aliens and their children.
Florida prohibits issuing driver's licenses to people in the country illegally.
"We're going to continue with positive cooperation," DeSantis said.
The contrast with Minneapolis couldn't be starker.
Minnesota is officially designated as a sanctuary state by the Department of Homeland Security as of July 2025.
Minneapolis and St. Paul both have sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with ICE.
The city's Separation Ordinance prohibits city personnel from assisting federal immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis police can't verify immigration status and the city denies ICE access to facilities like parking garages.
Governor Walz made clear that illegal aliens can claim state benefits.
"We provide for all of our people in Minnesota," Walz said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told illegal residents that the city "will do anything in our power to help because you're not an alien; in our city, you're a neighbor."
Those aren't just words – they're policies designed to attract and protect illegal aliens from deportation.
And now two American citizens are dead.
Democrats Demand DeSantis Address the Killings
Florida Democrat caucus leader Fentrice Driskell fired back at DeSantis for ignoring the deaths.
"Even those who want to be tough on immigration do not want to see Americans gunned down in the street," Driskell stated.
She warned that South Florida's large immigrant community could become "inflamed and devolve into chaos."
Driskell added that "no one agency should be judge, jury and executioner."
The entire Florida Democratic congressional delegation committed to voting no on expanding ICE funding.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor announced Monday she signed on to Articles of Impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
"Secretary Noem & DHS employees have systemically violated the rights and privacy of Americans, terrorized our cities, and obstructed Congress," Castor said.
Castor is demanding "a full and impartial investigation into the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and all others under Trump's DHS."
Democrats face a problem explaining why cooperation works in Florida while Minneapolis burns.
Florida has removed nearly 20,000 illegal aliens without killing any citizens.
Minneapolis has had two dead Americans in three weeks.
DeSantis argues that Walz and Frey's rhetoric encouraging resistance created the deadly confrontations.
Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara noted that federal agents blocked his officers from the scene after Pretti's shooting.
"Even when our officers initially responded to the scene, our watch commander was not given even the most basic information," O'Hara said.
Federal officials refused to allow state investigators access despite a court order requiring them to preserve evidence.
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Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino claimed Pretti intended to "massacre" federal agents despite video showing Pretti had only his phone when agents tackled him.
Bovino and some of his agents are now leaving Minneapolis following intense backlash.
Reports indicate Border Patrol agents are departing Minnesota amid the fallout from Pretti's death.
This came after Trump stated he had a "productive call" with Walz and would send border czar Tom Homan to manage ICE operations in the state.
Whether Homan can clean up the mess created by sanctuary policies remains to be seen.
DeSantis made his position clear: cooperation works, resistance kills.
Sources:
- Nathaniel Rodriguez, "DeSantis says Tim Walz, Minneapolis mayor are creating 'toxic environment' with agents," WFLA, January 26, 2026.
- Staff Report, "DeSantis touts cooperation with feds and reports 20,000 illegals removed from Florida," The Villages Daily Sun, January 26, 2026.
- Drew Dixon, "Fatal shooting of Minneapolis activist sparks war of words among Florida politicians," Florida Politics, January 25, 2026.
- Mallory Simon and Steve Almasy, "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blames Minnesota officials for immigration turmoil there," Yahoo News, January 27, 2026.
- Reuters, "Killing of Alex Pretti," Wikipedia, January 27, 2026.
- CBS News, "Bovino, some Border Patrol agents to leave Minneapolis soon," January 27, 2026.
- NPR, "Minneapolis shootings raise questions about use-of-force rules," January 27, 2026.
- PolitiFact, "Fact-checking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' final State of the State speech," January 13, 2026.
