Micayla Pretti has shared a heartfelt tribute to an “incredibly intelligent and deeply passionate” man who had a remarkable ability to “light up every room he walked into.” Her message comes as even some Republicans have joined in criticizing the fatal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

At 32, she described her brother as a hero and expressed gratitude towards everyone who had sent supportive messages or made posts in his memory.

“All Alex ever wanted was to help someone—anyone,” she shared in a statement released on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT).

“Even in his final moments on this earth, he was simply trying to do just that,” she added.

The “kind, generous” nurse’s sister noted that “he touched more lives than he probably ever realized” through his work with Veterans Affairs, and expressed regret over how he has been portrayed by some.

“When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough?” Ms Pretti asked. 

“Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching.”

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy didn’t simply criticise the immigration crackdown but called for a full joint federal and state investigation, arguing “the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake”. 

While Trump’s supporters are not directly criticising him, it is a sign that trust is eroding over some of his most important policies. 

In the hours after Mr Pretti’s killing, top Trump officials including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem were quick to cast him as an instigator who “approached” officers with a gun and acted violently. 

But videos from the scene show him being pushed by an officer before a half-dozen agents descend on him.

He was never seen brandishing the 9mm semiautomatic handgun police say he was licensed to carry. 

The administration has said investigations are ongoing, though information hasn’t yet emerged to support some of the provocative initial claims.

Joe Biden on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) added his voice to the Democrat former presidents criticising the crackdown, saying it betrayed American’s most basic values.

“We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street,” he said.

“We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. 

“We are not a nation that tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbours being terrorised.

He called for full and transparent investigations into the killings of Mr Pretti and Renee Good, urging Americans to “stand up and speak out”.

“Violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens,” Biden said.

The White House seemed to try to ease the conflict Monday as Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz both suggested their conversation was productive. 

Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who has been at the centre of the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement surge nationwide, was expected to soon leave Minneapolis, replaced by Trump border czar, Tom Homan.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz ordered acting ICE director Todd Lyons to personally appear in court on Friday, to explain why he should not be held in contempt for  failing to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants.

Trump on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) said he wanted to see a “very honourable and honest investigation” into the killing said Noem was doing “a very good job”.

– Reported with Associated Press

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