Republican lawmakers are starting to break with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, as the party scrambles to respond to growing public anger after two US citizens were killed by federal agents.
But even as some Republicans in Washington speak out against the fatal shootings, they've avoided directly criticising President Donald Trump or his broader immigration agenda.
The emerging messaging on Minneapolis points to the party's main dilemma heading into the midterm elections: whether and how to distance itself from the biggest controversies of Trump's second term, while running on his overall record on immigration and other issues - a record that's popular on the right, and that most Republicans helped push through Congress.
So far, Republicans have focused criticism on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE - the agency at the forefront of the Minneapolis operation - and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security taking part.
Significantly, opinion polls have shown a majority of Americans believe ICE's tactics have "gone too far." In the face of protests and public outcry following the shootings, some Republican senators have called for further oversight of ICE.
Moderate Republicans like Lisa Murkowski have been vocal in their criticism, while others, including some of Trump's allies, have expressed concerns without directly blaming the president. As the party balances these complex dynamics, they navigate a pivotal moment as they prepare for the upcoming elections.
Trump, on the other hand, has started to shift his tone following the backlash surrounding Pretti's death.
