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By Daniel Orton
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Protests erupted in multiple U.S. cities after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive care unit nurse, during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis, escalating tensions over immigration enforcement and prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand that federal officers leave Minnesota.
Demonstrations broke out in Minneapolis, New York, Washington and Los Angeles, with hundreds braving subzero temperatures in Minnesota to confront federal agents in a city already shaken by another fatal shooting involving an ICE officer earlier this month.
Why It Matters
The killing of Pretti has intensified a growing national backlash against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, raising questions about the conduct of federal law enforcement during immigration operations and fueling political pressure on Democrats to withhold funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
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The episode also comes amid heightened sensitivity in Minneapolis following the killing of Renee Nicole Good on January 7 by an ICE officer, deepening distrust between local officials, federal authorities and protesters.
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What To Know
Pretti was shot Friday night on Nicollet Avenue during a federal immigration operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said officers fired "defensive shots" after a man with a handgun approached them and "violently resisted" efforts to disarm him.
An angry crowd gathered after the shooting, screaming profanities at federal officers, calling them "cowards" and telling them to go home. One officer responded mockingly as he walked away, saying, "Boo hoo." Elsewhere, agents shoved a shouting protester into a car as demonstrators dragged garbage dumpsters into the street and chanted "ICE out now" and "Observing ICE is not a crime."
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said information about the moments leading up to the shooting was limited. He added that police believe Pretti was a "lawful gun owner with a permit to carry."
Bystander videos that circulated online appear to show Pretti holding a phone rather than a weapon, though no video clearly shows whether he had a firearm in hand at the time of the shooting.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti arrived to "impede a law enforcement operation" and questioned why he was armed, but did not say whether he drew or brandished a weapon.
Federal officials said the Border Patrol agent involved is an eight‑year veteran.
Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz deployed the state's National Guard to assist local police at the shooting site and at a nearby federal building, where officers have faced daily protests. Walz later said he had no confidence in federal officials to lead the investigation.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said federal officers blocked state investigators from the scene even after his agency obtained a signed judicial warrant.
New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, later said Democrats would not support a spending package that includes funding for DHS, raising the prospect of a partial government shutdown when funding expires January 30.
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What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump blamed Democratic leaders, writing on Truth Social: "What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?" He accused Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of "inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric."
New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez called for federal immigration authorities to leave Minnesota and urged Democrats to block ICE funding, saying: "We have a responsibility to protect Americans from tyranny."
Pretti's family said in a statement: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed…Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man."
Gregory Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol said: "This is only the latest attack on law enforcement. Across the country, the men and women of DHS have been attacked, shot at."
What Happens Next
Minnesota officials have said the state will take the lead in investigating the shooting, though jurisdictional disputes with federal authorities remain unresolved.
Protests are expected to continue in Minneapolis and other cities as lawmakers debate immigration enforcement and the looming government funding deadline.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
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