Two border agents put on leave after fatal shooting of Alex Pretti
Two federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, have been placed on administrative leave as pressure mounts on the Trump administration over immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
US Customs and Border Protection said that placing the agents on leave follows standard procedure while the incident is investigated. Pretti, an American citizen, was killed on Saturday during an altercation with federal officers, which has since ignited protests, political outrage and renewed scrutiny of immigration raids in Minnesota.
Senior officials change tune when describing Pretti shooting
A preliminary Department of Homeland Security report sent to Congress says two officers fired their weapons during a struggle with Pretti. That account conflicts with earlier statements from senior officials who claimed Pretti was “brandishing” a gun and that the shots that were fired were in self defense. Video footage that was reviewed by BBC Verify found no visible firearm in Pretti’s hands during the incident.
The shooting is the second killing of a US citizen by immigration officers in Minneapolis in less than a month. On 7th January, an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, prompting protests that Pretti himself attended. The agent involved in Good’s death was also placed on administrative leave.
Initial messaging from the White House and DHS about the shooting of Pretti has drawn fierce criticism. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Pretti of “domestic terrorism,” while Trump adviser Stephen Miller described him as a “would-be assassin.”
Pretti’s family have strongly rejected those claims, calling him a “kind-hearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends,” and condemning what they described as “the sickening lies told about our son by the administration.” In one statement, the family said: “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs”.
As backlash spread across party lines, President Donald Trump shifted his tone, saying he wanted to “de-escalate” the situation and calling the killing “very unfortunate.” He later said that he did not believe Pretti was a “would-be assassin,” though he added: “Listen, you can't walk in with guns. You can't do that, but it's just a very unfortunate incident.”
Tensions continue to escalate with attack of Representative Ilhan Omar
Despite those comments, Trump escalated a public clash with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has refused to change the city’s sanctuary policies. After Frey said Minneapolis would not help enforce federal immigration law, Trump responded online: “Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!”
Attorney General Pam Bondi was in Minneapolis on Wednesday, announcing the arrest of 16 people accused of assaulting federal officers during protests. “We expect more arrests to come,” she said.
Representative Ilhan Omar, another outspoken critic of the raids, blamed Trump’s rhetoric for an increase in threats against her. She was attacked at a public event on Tuesday evening, when a man allegedly sprayed her with a substance using a syringe. Police have charged the suspect with third-degree assault.
Judge orders release of refugees waiting for residency documents
Meanwhile, a federal judge has ordered the government to release refugees arrested during immigration operations while awaiting residency paperwork and to return those transferred out of Minnesota. Judge John Tunheim said refugees “are not committing crimes on our streets, nor did they illegally cross the border,” and added that the US had been “a haven of individual liberties”.
The administration says more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in Minnesota since December as part of Operation Metro Surge, which it has described as its largest enforcement push yet. Critics say the operation has created fear across communities, while lawmakers from both parties are now discussing cuts to DHS funding and, among Democrats, possible impeachment proceedings against Noem.
