Tensions escalated in the United States on Friday as journalist Don Lemon was arrested while covering immigration protests, and a top European Union official expressed “shock” over the killing of two American citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on the social media platform X that Lemon was arrested “at my direction” on unspecified federal charges. Bondi alleged the arrest was connected to a “coordinated attack” on a church in St. Paul where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as a pastor. Lemon’s lawyer stated that the independent journalist was taken into custody in Los Angeles and that his work was consistent with his journalistic practices.
The arrest follows weeks of protests in Minneapolis against the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti and mother-of-three Renee Good by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations. Adding to the public outcry, President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform to label Pretti an “agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist,” citing unverified footage.
The situation has garnered international attention. In an interview with AFP, European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribiera described the images from Minneapolis as “terrifying.” She stated, “For me, it was terrible — the shock of seeing how Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and small children, women, and men are treated with such senseless violence.”
In an effort to manage the situation, the White House has appointed border chief Tom Homan to oversee immigration operations in Minneapolis. Homan has indicated a potential “drawdown plan” for the federal agents involved, contingent on cooperation from local authorities. The crisis has also reached Congress, where a potential government shutdown looms over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
