The Introspective

Federal leadership changes, immigration rulings, and a violent incident shaped the week.

Dante Belcher

Jan 30, 2026

Trump’s 54th week brought updates on immigration and federal leadership, political violence, and the economy. The week followed the placement of two federal officers involved in the killing of Alex Pretti—a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse for veterans—on administrative leave after the shooting Saturday.

At the same time, Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino was relieved of his role as commander-at-large and returned to El Centro, California, raising questions as Border Czar Tom Homan arrived in the Twin Cities on Tuesday. Meanwhile, following a previous report by The Introspective highlighting the detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, a federal judge temporarily blocked their deportation.

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar was assaulted at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis when a man confronted her and sprayed a substance—allegedly apple cider vinegar—while calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign amid backlash over Pretti’s death. The man was later arrested and charged with third-degree assault. Meanwhile, as the trade war and broader economic uncertainty continue, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady for the first time since July.

Alex Pretti and Immigration

Following the shooting of Alex Pretti—who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in what people are calling “execution style”—two federal officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.

This comes as a report from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), obtained by The Introspective, detailed agents conducting an operation in Minneapolis on Saturday when an officer was “confronted by two female civilians blowing whistles.” The officer ordered the women to “move out of the roadway” before agents encountered Pretti.

“The [CBP officer] pushed them both away and one of the females ran to a male, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen,” read the report.

“The [CBP officer] attempted to move the woman and Pretti out of the roadway. The woman and Pretti did not move. The [CBP officer] deployed his oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray toward both Pretti and the woman.”

According to the report, CBP agents then attempted to “take Pretti into custody.”

“Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a BPA yelled, ‘He’s got a gun!’ multiple times,” the report continued.

“Approximately five seconds later, a [Border Patrol agent] discharged his CBP-issued Glock 19 and a [CBP officer] also discharged his CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti. After the shooting, a BPA advised he had possession of Pretti’s firearm.”

“The BPA subsequently cleared and secured Pretti’s firearm in his vehicle,” the report added.

The report contradicted earlier claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that Pretti brandished a firearm and attacked officers, prompting growing calls for her resignation following the shooting.

At the same time, new video showed Pretti clashing with federal agents a week before his death, depicting him shouting and spitting at agents before kicking the taillight of an agents’ SUV, causing it to break.

“Fuck you!” Pretti shouted in the video before being tackled by officers.

“A week before Alex was gunned down in the street—despite posing no threat to anyone—he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents,” said Steve Schleicher, an attorney for the Pretti family, confirming it was Pretti in the video.

“Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing at the hands of ICE on Jan. 24.”

Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino was later relieved of his role as commander-at-large and returned to El Centro, California, with Trump announcing on Truth Social that Border Czar Tom Homan would arrive in the Twin Cities.

“I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all criminals that they have in their possession,” Trump wrote, referring to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, adding that the two had a “very good call” and were on a “similar wavelength.”

“We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have ‘touched,’ and even in Minnesota, crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!” Trump added.

Walz said on X that he had a “productive call” with Trump, while calling for the number of federal agents in the state to be “reduced.”

“I told him we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota,” Walz wrote.

Meanwhile, following a previous report by The Introspective detailing the detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, a federal judge temporarily blocked their deportation.

“Any possible or anticipated removal or transfer of Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, is IMMEDIATELY STAYED until further order from this Court,” a court document obtained by The Introspective read, adding that federal officials “SHALL NOT TRANSFER Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, outside of this judicial district during the pendency of this litigation and until further order of this Court.”

IIhan Omar and Economy

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar was assaulted at a Minneapolis town hall when a man approached her and attempted to spray her with a substance while she was calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment following the Pretti shooting.

“You must resign,” yelled the man, identified as Anthony Kazmierczak, before being tackled by security guards. He was later charged with third-degree assault.

Staff members and local officials told Omar to leave the room and “get checked,” but she said that “is what they want.”

“We will continue,” Omar said.

“These fucking assholes are not going to get away with this.”

U.S. Capitol Police acknowledged the attack, saying Kazmierczak made “an unacceptable decision that will be met with swift justice.”

“We are grateful for the rapid response of onsite security and our local law enforcement partners,” the statement read.

“We are now working with our federal partners to see this man faces the most serious charges possible to deter this kind of violence in our society.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he was “looking” into Omar following the assault.

“Additionally, the DOJ and Congress are looking at ‘Congresswoman’ Ilhan Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 million dollars. Time will tell all,” Trump wrote, as a previous Introspective report alleged fraud among Minnesota’s Somali population amid continued anti-immigrant sentiment.

Omar responded to Trump’s claims on X, saying his support is “collapsing” and that he is “panicking.”

“Right on cue, you’re deflecting from your failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of ‘investigations’ have found nothing,” she wrote.

“Get your goons out of Minnesota.”

This follows previous reports from The Introspective detailing increased political violence in recent months, including the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and another detailing the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady for the first time since July, as the trade war and broader economic uncertainty continue.