Utah Rep. Blake Moore is calling for an “in-depth investigation” into the fatal shooting by a federal immigration officer this weekend, making him the highest-ranking House Republican so far to support an independent review of the incident.
Moore responded to the shooting two days after it occurred in Minneapolis, telling the Deseret News in a statement he didn’t want to “rush to judgment, something we can all do better.” In his statement, Moore said the incident required a thorough review — even going so far as to break with the Trump administration officials who said the victim, Alex Pretti, posed a threat to immigration officials leading up to the shooting.
“In my review, I did not see anything that supported the characterization of Alex Pretti ‘brandishing’ a firearm,” Moore, who serves as the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, said in a statement. “Government officials can best serve the public when we don’t rush to make judgments before reviewing all the evidence.”
Moore said he spent the day on Monday speaking with constituents on both sides of the aisle to discuss proposals on a “way forward on all aspects of immigration,” noting he remains optimistic there are commonsense solutions that can bring the two parties closer together on the thorny political issue.
“There is a better way, and I hope we can implement with public support the policies that keep our country safe and provide a productive way forward,” Moore said.
Republicans consider hearings with DHS officials
Moore is the latest Republican to weigh in on this weekend’s shooting, during which an immigration officer shot and killed a man who was filming in the streets. DHS officers say the man was armed and the agents believed he was a threat, while Democrats argue he did not brandish a weapon. Details of the shooting at this point are limited.
Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, similarly called for “a transparent, independent investigation” into the matter, backing proposals by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to hold oversight hearings with top immigration officials in the Trump administration in the coming weeks.
“Those responsible — no matter their title — must be held accountable,” Curtis said in a statement. “Officials who rush to judgment before all the facts are known undermine public trust and the law-enforcement mission.”
Curtis said he disagreed with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s “premature” response after the shooting, arguing it came “before all the facts were known” and that it “weakened confidence” in the agency.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has not specifically responded to the shooting on Saturday, but has since re-upped his calls to support immigration officers and fund the Department of Homeland Security. Those statements come as Democrats threaten to tank a spending bill this week to keep the government open unless the portion funding DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement is removed.
“We’re not defunding ICE,” Lee said in a post on X. “Live with it.”
“I’ll oppose any effort to defund DHS,” Lee said in another post. “Every Republican should.”
Other members of Utah’s delegation have not yet responded publicly to the shooting. The Deseret News contacted those offices for statements but has not yet received responses.
