Incident Triggers Protests and Political Fallout in Minnesota
Two US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, have been placed on administrative leave, authorities confirmed. The shooting, which occurred in Minneapolis, has ignited widespread protests, renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement, and calls from lawmakers in both parties for accountability at the highest levels of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
CBP said the agents were removed from duty as part of standard protocol while the incident remains under investigation. The decision comes amid growing public pressure and conflicting official accounts about the moments leading up to Pretti’s death.
Conflicting Accounts and New Video Evidence
Initial statements from DHS officials claimed that Pretti had brandished a firearm during a confrontation with federal agents. However, a preliminary DHS report sent to Congress later clarified that the agents fired their weapons during a physical struggle, not after Pretti allegedly aimed a gun.
Further complicating the narrative, BBC Verify analysis of available video footage found no evidence that Pretti was holding a gun at the time he was shot. The emergence of this footage has intensified criticism of DHS leadership and raised questions about the accuracy of early official statements.
Prior Encounter With Federal Agents Raises Questions
Newly released video shows an altercation between Pretti and federal officers nearly two weeks before the fatal shooting. In the footage, Pretti appears agitated and confrontational, and a gun is visible tucked into his waistband. His family’s attorney, however, has emphasized that this earlier incident cannot justify the fatal shooting days later.
“A week before Alex was gunned down, he posed no threat to anyone,” the family’s lawyer said, adding that the killing was unjustified regardless of past interactions.
Political Tensions Escalate Over Immigration Enforcement
The shooting has amplified tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic-led cities over immigration enforcement. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reiterated that the city would not enforce federal immigration laws, citing sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with ICE.
President Donald Trump responded sharply, warning that city leaders were “playing with fire” by resisting federal authority. Meanwhile, Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike have called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or be removed, with some House Democrats threatening impeachment proceedings.
Operation Metro Surge Under Scrutiny
Pretti’s death occurred amid DHS’s “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota. DHS says the operation has led to more than 3,000 arrests, including individuals with violent criminal histories.
Critics argue the operation has fueled fear, civil unrest, and aggressive enforcement tactics. A federal judge recently ordered the release of refugees detained during the operation, stating that the US must remain “a haven of individual liberties.”
Growing Calls for Accountability and Reform
As investigations continue, the shooting has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, federal policing, and civil rights. Protesters across the US are demanding justice for Alex Pretti, while lawmakers are exploring funding restrictions on DHS as leverage for reform.
With public trust eroding and political pressure mounting, the outcome of the investigation into Pretti’s death could have far-reaching consequences for federal law enforcement practices nationwide.
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