By Skyler Cooper
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt weighed in on the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend.
In an appearance on CNN Sunday, Gov. Stitt called the shooting a “real tragedy.”
“The death of Americans… what we’re seeing on TV, it’s causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability.” Stitt told CNN’s Dana Bash. “Americans don’t like what they’re seeing right now.”
Gov. Stitt applauded President Donald Trump’s focus on immigration, but said he thought the president had been given “bad advice.”
“Now Americans are asking themselves, ‘what is the end game, what is the solution?'” Stitt said. “We believe in federalism and states rights and nobody like feds coming into their state. And so what’s the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want.”
Stitt added that he believes the issue should not be politicized and that his solution would be to grant states more control over immigration policy.
“Right now tempers are just going crazy and we need to calm this down.” Stitt noted.
On Monday, President Trump announced in a social media post that he was sending White House Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota.
“Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.” President Trump wrote.
Gov. Stitt responded to that news in a post of his own, saying “I applaud President Donald J. Trump for sending Tom Homan to put fresh eyes on the ground in Minnesota.” Stitt wrote.
President Trump also posted about a phone call he said took place with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength.” President Trump said, in part.
Read the full post here.
Governor Stitt, Chair of the National Governors Association, released another statement along with Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore, after the shooting.
“America’s strength has long rested on a system of cooperative federalism. Governors are closest to conditions on the ground and are best positioned to respond to challenges within their states and territories, particularly those involving public safety. At the same time, moments of national strain require clear leadership, shared purpose, and coordination across all levels of government.
“Clarity of purpose is essential to maintaining public trust, ensuring accountability, and avoiding unintended escalation. The use of federal authority should be guided by a transparent strategy that complements—rather than supplants—state and local efforts to uphold the law.
“As governors, we urge leaders at all levels to exercise wisdom and consider a reset of strategy toward a unified vision for immigration enforcement. We believe there are criminals in our country who must be held accountable, but moments like this demand thoughtful leadership, coordination, and clarity. Scenes of violence and chaos on our streets are unacceptable and do not reflect who we are.
“States and the federal government should work together to ensure laws are enforced, communities are protected, and constitutional norms are preserved. We believe strong leadership at every level—federal, state, and local—requires collaboration, communication, and respect for each other’s roles. A unified approach, rooted in clarity and coordination, is essential to restoring order, protecting citizens, and strengthening confidence in our democratic institutions.”
