Minneapolis live updates: Trump says Good, Pretti killings 'should not have happened'

President Donald Trump told NBC News that he learned his administration could use a "softer touch" on immigration.

Trump said he was the one who ordered the 700 federal agents to be drawn down from Minnesota, claiming the administration has seen more cooperation from local officials.

The move came nearly two weeks following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents. Trump was asked what he learned from the operations in Minneapolis.

"I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough," Trump responded, alleging, "We're dealing with really hard criminals."

A group of Minnesota school districts and educators sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, alleging that a surge in immigration enforcement at or near school property has created a "pervasive climate of fear" that is driving down attendance and has rescinded long-standing policy that protected schools.

The school districts along with a teachers union have asked a federal judge to block the government from carrying out immigration enforcement operations at or near school property without a judicial warrant.

"In recent weeks, the administration has launched 'Operation Metro Surge' to accelerate its immigration enforcement efforts in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, which has resulted in federal agents becoming an increasingly common presence at or near schools and school bus stops," the lawyers representing the school districts and educators wrote.

As a result of Operation Metro Surge, school districts and teachers across Minnesota have reported "significant reductions in attendance," the complaint alleges.

According to the lawsuit, the federal government has for more than 30 years restricted immigration enforcement near schools and other "sensitive locations."

"The federal government has long recognized that it could effectively enforce immigration laws without, in its words, 'denying or limiting... children access to their schools,'" the lawsuit claims.

-ABC News' Laura Romero

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted a statement on social media Wednesday, reacting to the announcement that the federal government would remove 700 agents from Minnesota but leave 2,000 for immigration enforcement.

"Today's announcement is a step in the right direction, but we need a faster and larger drawdown of forces, state-led investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and an end to this campaign of retribution," Walz said.

While Border Czar Tom Homan said there would be a "draw down" of agents, he added that federal personnel providing security will not leave the city until the federal government sees a change in the "lawlessness" impeding ICE and Border Patrol agents.

"Stop impeding, stop violating the law because we will arrest you," he said Wednesday morning.