Trump's immigration crackdown in the spotlight ahead of midterms as fatal MN shootings ignite backlash

By Fox News · Fox News

A second fatal shooting this month by federal agents in Minneapolis is putting President Donald Trump ’s aggressive immigration crackdown carried out by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents in the spotlight. The shootings of Renee Good, a mother of three, earlier this month, and nurse Alex Pretti this past weekend, as they protested federal agents carrying out immigration operations, sparked national debate and demonstrations, further inflaming political tensions over Trump's push for the mass deportation of millions of illegal immigrants. Trump's immigration crackdown turned up the heat on Republican incumbents and candidates on the ballot in this year's midterm elections, forcing them to walk a tightrope as they defend the Trump administration's increasingly unpopular illegal immigration enforcement efforts . WHY A MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DROPPED HIS BID FOR GOVERNOR AFTER SECOND FATAL SHOOTING "I think it’s going to make things more difficult," Amy Koch, a Minnesota-based Republican strategist and former state senator told Fox News Digital. "The images and the energy behind the ICE out movement will definitely play against Republicans." The two shootings and the massive deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis has also deflated coverage of a deepening federal investigation into the sweeping fraud scandal in Minnesota's social services programs. TRUMP DEPLOYS BORDER CZAR TO MINNESOTA IN WAKE OF SECOND FATAL SHOOTING The scandal, which spurred Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to drop his re-election bid for a third term, had given Republicans hope of breaking their ballot box losing streak by flipping an open governor's office and Senate seat in November's midterm elections in the blue-leaning state. "Four weeks ago, I would have told you Republicans were going to do incredibly well statewide in Minnesota, and now I have a lot of questions," said Koch, the first and only woman elected as Minnesota Senate majorit…