White House Says President Trump Does Not Want to See People Killed on US Streets

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. (Instagram/karolineleavitt)

WASHINGTON - The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump does not want to see people injured or killed on the streets of the United States, but will not back down from efforts to deport "violent criminal illegal immigrants" from Minnesota.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefed reporters after the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday by federal officers sparked outrage from Americans. This is the second fatal shooting of a US citizen in Minnesota this month.

"Let's be clear about the circumstances that led to that moment on Saturday. This tragedy occurred as a result of the deliberate and hostile resistance of the leaders of the Democrats in Minnesota for weeks," Leavitt said, launching Al Arabiya from Reuters (27/1).

Video from the scene, which was verified by Reuters, contradicts the Trump administration's statement that immigration agents fired in self-defense, after Pretti approached them with a gun.

Video footage shows Pretti holding a phone - not a gun - as agents wrestle with him until he falls to the ground.

The footage also shows officers drawing their guns, which were stored near his waist after he was incapacitated, moments before they shot him dead. Pretti himself is a licensed gun owner.

Leavitt said President Trump "will never back down from his promise to deport criminal illegal immigrants who commit violence and make America safe again, and he welcomes all cooperation in this effort."

Democratic leaders are strongly opposed to the Trump administration's increase in the number of immigration agents in Minnesota, which they describe as an illegal invasion that endangers public safety. Massive street protests have also been held in sub-zero temperatures.

Leavitt called on Minnesota political leaders to turn over illegal immigrants in jail to federal authorities, along with any illegal immigrants with an active arrest warrant or known criminal history to be deported immediately.

He said President Trump wants Congress to immediately pass legislation that ends the policy of some cities in providing protection to undocumented border crossers.