MINNEAPOLIS – The streets of Minneapolis turned into a site of unrest following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, Alex Pretti, by a U.S. Border Patrol agent. Hundreds of protesters flooded the frigid streets, demanding federal immigration officers stop operations in the state.
Pretti, known for his outspoken criticism of President Trump’s immigration policies, was shot amid a controversial law enforcement operation. Eyewitness accounts and videos show him being approached by multiple officers, but none captured any indication that he was armed when he was shot.
The Minnesota National Guard was deployed to assist local police amidst rising tensions, while officials have remained tight-lipped about the circumstances leading up to the incident. However, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security stated that the agent fired “defensive shots” after Pretti, allegedly armed, resisted attempts to disarm him.
In response to the shooting, activists and Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for ICE to withdraw from Minnesota, expressing outrage at the handling of immigration enforcement. Many are advocating a halt to funding for DHS, which oversees ICE operations.
During the protests, demonstrators confronted federal officers, using fiery chants against ICE while some engaged in clashes resulting in the use of flashbangs by law enforcement. Pretti’s family released a statement expressing their grief and anger, branding the accounts by authorities as “sickening lies.”
As demonstrations spread across major cities like New York and Los Angeles, Minneapolis saw a mix of icy conditions and incendiary public sentiment against federal immigration practices. Community members continue to gather at the memorial site for Pretti, seeking justice and voicing their disdain for a system they believe is failing them.
