Minneapolis live updates: DOJ launches investigation into Pretti killing, Deputy AG Blanche says

The younger sister of Alex Pretti issued a statement Monday memorializing her big brother's kindness and criticizing "disgusting lies" told in the wake of his death.

Micayla Pretti called her brother a hero and thanked everyone who had reached out to the family with messages or posts she described as sharing the overwhelming positivity that reflected his character, work ethic and passions.

"All Alex ever wanted was to help someone - anyone," she said. "Even in his very last moments on this earth, he was simply trying to do just that."

Alex Pretti was an intensive care nurse, and through his work at the Veterans Administration, "he touched more lives than he probably ever realized," his sister said.

She lamented how some have portrayed her brother.

"When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough?" Micayla Pretti asked. "Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching."

Customs and Border Protection commander-at-large Greg Bovino is returning to El Centro, California, to resume his duties as chief of that sector, multiple sources told ABC News.

The position of commander-at-large was a temporary position.

Dept. of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement on Monday that Bovino "has NOT been relieved of his duties," referring to him as a "key part of the President's team and a great American."

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been a strong supporter of Trump's crackdown on immigration, said Monday the White House needs to "recalibrate" what it is doing in Minnesota.

Abbott spoke with conservative radio host Mark Davis and said immigration agents deserve respect as law enforcement.

Abbott said he believes the White House is working on a "game plan" for immigration agents to "go about their job in a more structured way to make sure that they are going to be able to remove these people, but without causing all the kinds of problems and fighting in communities that they are experiencing right now."

Abbott also blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor for not doing enough to calm the situation on the ground.

President Donald Trump said that he just had a "very good" phone call with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

"Lots of progress is being made!" Trump said in a post on social media.

Frey said he "appreciated" the call with Trump, during which the mayor said he "expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end."

"The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue," Frey said in a statement on social media.

"Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go," he added.

Trump said that border czar Tom Homan will meet with Frey on Tuesday "to continue the discussion."

The call follows Trump's phone call with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz earlier Monday.