Vermont Governor Condemns ICE Shooting as 'Cold-Blooded Murder'

Scott urges Trump administration to change its approach to immigration enforcement

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Vermont Governor Phil Scott has strongly criticized the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis, calling a recent shooting by ICE agents a "cold-blooded murder." In an exclusive interview, Scott said the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement has been "egregious" and that "if cooler heads had prevailed," the person who was killed would still be alive today. The governor called on President Trump to direct his cabinet to change their approach to immigration enforcement.

Why it matters

The governor's comments highlight the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding the Trump administration's immigration policies and enforcement tactics. As a Republican governor, Scott's criticism of ICE and the White House carries significant weight and could put pressure on the administration to re-evaluate its strategies.

The details

In the interview, Governor Scott said he was "calling balls and strikes" on the administration's actions, which he felt were "definitely outside the strike zone." He argued that with more training and accountability, the fatal shooting could have been avoided. Scott believes only President Trump has the power to direct his cabinet to change their approach to immigration enforcement.

  • The interview with Governor Scott took place this week in Montpelier, Vermont.

The players

Phil Scott

The Republican Governor of Vermont who has criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, whom Governor Scott is urging to direct his cabinet to change their approach to immigration enforcement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that was involved in the shooting incident in Minneapolis that Governor Scott condemned as a "cold-blooded murder."

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What they’re saying

“If cooler heads had prevailed, if they had done their job in a different way, with more training and more accountability, I think we would have had one more person who was alive today.”

— Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont (WCAX)

“The administration's actions were 'definitely outside the strike zone.'”

— Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont (WCAX)

What’s next

Governor Scott is calling on President Trump to direct his cabinet to change the administration's approach to immigration enforcement in order to prevent future incidents like the fatal shooting in Minneapolis.

The takeaway

The governor's strong condemnation of the ICE shooting and the Trump administration's immigration tactics highlights the ongoing political tensions and debates surrounding these issues. As a Republican leader, Scott's criticism carries significant weight and could put pressure on the White House to re-evaluate its enforcement strategies.