Minneapolis sees little change on the streets despite Trump’s suggestion of easing tensions

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump appeared to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minneapolis after a second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents, but there was little evidence Wednesday of any significant changes after weeks of harsh rhetoric and clashes with protesters.

The tension was evident when Trump changed his leadership by sending his top border adviser to Minnesota to take charge of the immigration crackdown. This was followed by seemingly conciliatory statements about the Democratic governor and mayor.

Read more: Minneapolis residents remain skeptical after immigration enforcement leadership change

Trump said he and Gov. Tim Walz, whom he has criticized for weeks, were on a “similar wave” after the phone call. After a conversation with Mayor Jacob Frey, the president praised the discussion and declared that “a lot of progress has been made.”

But on the city’s streets, there were few signs of a transformation. Immigration enforcement operations and confrontations with activists continued Wednesday in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

A group of protesters honked and pointed at federal officers in a car on a north Minneapolis street. As the officers’ car moved, a small convoy of activists followed it in their cars for a few blocks until the officers stopped again.

He watches: How has the White House’s tone evolved on the Minnesota shootings?

Associated Press journalists were in the neighborhood covering the enforcement proceedings. When the journalists got out of their car to document the meeting, Federal Bureau of Prisons officers pushed one of them, threatened him with arrest, and asked them to return to their car, even though the journalists identified themselves as media personnel.

Officers from multiple federal agencies participated in the enforcement operations. From their car, AP journalists saw at least one person being pepper-sprayed and another detained, though it was not clear whether that person was the target of the operation or a protester. Agents also smashed car windows.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is visiting Minnesota, said 16 people were arrested Wednesday on charges of assault, resisting or obstructing law enforcement in the state. She said more arrests are expected.

He watches: The law professor says the Minnesota standoffs mirror how the Civil War began

“Nothing will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law,” Bondi said in a social media post.

Messages seeking comment were left with Immigration, Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

Migrants ‘still very worried’

Many immigrant families are still afraid to leave their homes, and Latino businesses remain closed, according to Daniel Hernandez, who owns Colonial Market grocery store in Minneapolis. He also runs a popular Facebook page geared toward informing the Hispanic community in the Twin Cities.

Although Colonial Market is open, all but one of the 10 immigrant-run businesses that rent space inside to sell clothing, jewelry and toys have closed since late December, and none have plans to reopen, Hernandez said.

“The reality is that the community is still very worried and afraid,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez pointed to Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, who helped lead the department’s crackdown in the Twin Cities and who has reportedly been assigned elsewhere.

Bovino “has been removed, but the tactics so far remain the same,” Hernandez said. “No one now trusts the government with these changes.”

Overall, enforcement activity in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs on Tuesday looked similar to recent weeks. As before, most enforcement operations did not result in major confrontations with activists, who said they were monitoring the implementation through social media and chats on messaging apps.

The enforcement operation extended to the Ecuadorian consulate in the city, where a federal law enforcement officer attempted to enter before staff prevented him.

Meanwhile, Trump said in a social media post that the city’s mayor is “playing with fire” by not participating in law enforcement efforts.

A veteran visits the memorial on the pier

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Donnie McMillan placed a cardboard sign reading “In Memory of My Angel” at the makeshift memorial where Alex Pretty was shot.

The 71-year-old Vietnam veteran knelt to pay his respects and saluted to honor the nurse he said he remembers seeing during his frequent visits to the Veterans Affairs hospital where Preeti works.

“I feel like I lost an angel here,” the disabled veteran said, pointing to the growing memorial on the sidewalk covered in flowers, candles and signs.

“This is not the way we should operate,” added McMillan, who said he served in Vietnam and then in the military police for more than a decade. “I respect everyone, but I respect my angel more, and now he is no longer with us.”

Rush Omar at a city hall meeting

In other developments, a man confronted Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting and sprayed her with a strong-smelling substance while she denounced the administration. He was addressed and identified by police as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, a convicted felon who made online posts supportive of Trump.

Minnesota court records show Kazmierczak was convicted of carjacking in 1989 and was arrested several times for drunk driving, along with a slew of traffic violations. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.

He watches: A man was arrested after spraying an unknown substance on Representative Ilhan Omar in the Minneapolis City Council

In social media posts, Kazmierczak described himself as a former network engineer living in Minneapolis, and made comments critical of former President Joe Biden, referring to Democrats as “angry and liars.”

Omar continued to speak for about 25 minutes after security removed the man, saying she would not be intimidated. After the accident, she said she was not injured.

The administration was also challenged in court. Federal courts were considering a decision on a lawsuit seeking to temporarily halt the crackdown, as well as an order for the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear in person to address what the judge said was a failure to grant due process to some immigrants.

Associated Press writers Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, and Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed to this report.