Trump said he will not sack Kristi Noem over the DHS response to two fatal shootings. Plus, Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown substance in Minneapolis
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Good morning.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported to Congress that two officers fired their guns at Alex Pretti during his fatal shooting.
What did the report say? Obtained by CNN and CBS News, the report of the initial investigation by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) into the shooting of Pretti states: “CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a BPA [border patrol agent] yelled: ‘He’s got a gun!’ multiple times. Approximately five seconds later, a BPA discharged his CBP-issued Glock 19 and a CBPO [CBP officer] also discharged his CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti.”
How has Trump been responding? Kristi Noem, the DHS secretary, has faced mounting calls from Democrats to resign or be impeached over her handling of immigration operations and the department’s response to the killing of Pretti and Renee Good, but Trump said he would not fire her. “I think she’s doing a very good job. The border is totally secure,” he said.
What’s the context of the attack? Omar has been the target of repeated xenophobic attacks from the president. Trump has said she should be “sent back to Somalia” – despite Omar becoming a citizen more than 25 years ago after arriving in the US as a refugee aged 12. She told the Guardian last month about the increase in death threats since Trump was re-elected.
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