Texas Governor Greg Abbott has publicly called on the White House to recalibrate the mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of a second fatal shooting linked to a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.

Abbott’s remarks come amid broad political debate over federal immigration tactics after Border Patrol agents killed a protester during “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale Interior immigration enforcement campaign that has drawn intense scrutiny and statewide protests in Minnesota.

Speaking on a conservative radio show and in subsequent statements, Abbott argued that ICE agents are law-enforcement officers whose mission should be refocused on removing individuals in the country illegally rather than provoking community conflict.

He said the White House should “recalibrate” its approach to restore respect for officers and improve operational structure, noting that public trust in enforcement has suffered amid the unrest.

Abbott praised President Donald Trump’s dispatch of border czar Tom Homan to oversee the federal operation in Minneapolis and suggested that enhanced leadership could lead to more effective collaboration between federal and local authorities.

He also placed political responsibility on Minnesota Democratic officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for allegedly failing to calm tensions and instead contributing to local discord.

The fatal shootings in Minnesota have amplified national debates over immigration enforcement.

Operation Metro Surge, initiated by the Trump administration, deployed thousands of immigration agents in Minneapolis and the wider state to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, but it has faced fierce opposition from state leaders and civil rights advocates who argue the campaign has exceeded constitutional limits.

President Trump has responded by reorganising the operation’s command structure, replacing the Border Patrol commander with Homan reporting directly to the White House, a move interpreted as an attempt to refine strategic oversight and mitigate public backlash.

Federal lawsuits and protests continue, challenging both the legality and conduct of aggressive interior enforcement actions, while Republican leaders like Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz have used the controversy to argue for stronger, more disciplined immigration policies with clear objectives.