Protests broke out 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—an incident that has intensified tensions over immigration enforcement and sparked fresh calls from Democratic lawmakers for federal officers to leave Minnesota.
Demonstrations were reported in Minneapolis, New York, Washington and Los Angeles. In Minnesota, hundreds rallied despite subzero temperatures, confronting federal agents in a city already on edge after another fatal shooting earlier this month involving an ICE officer.
Why It Matters
Pretti’s death has become a flashpoint in the growing backlash to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, fueling scrutiny of how federal officers conduct immigration operations and adding pressure on Democrats to consider withholding funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
The shooting also lands in a highly charged moment for Minneapolis. The city is still grappling with the January 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer, which has deepened distrust among local officials, federal authorities and protesters.
What To Know
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti was shot Friday night on Nicollet Avenue during a federal immigration operation. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said officers fired “defensive shots” after a man with a handgun approached them and “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him.
In the aftermath, an angry crowd gathered at the scene, shouting profanities at federal officers and demanding they leave. Witnesses described chaotic clashes as demonstrators chanted “ICE out now” and “Observing ICE is not a crime,” with garbage dumpsters reportedly dragged into the street. One officer was heard responding sarcastically while walking away, saying, “Boo hoo.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said authorities had limited information about what happened in the moments before the shooting, but added police believe Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.
Videos posted online appear to show Pretti holding a phone rather than a weapon, though none clearly confirms whether a firearm was in his hand at the time he was shot.
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 agent involved is an eight-year Border Patrol veteran.
In response to mounting unrest, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz deployed the National Guard to support 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.
In Washington, New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, said Democrats would not support a spending package that includes DHS funding—raising the possibility of a partial government shutdown when current funding expires January 30.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump blamed Democratic leaders in a Truth Social post, writing: “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 rejected the administration’s account in a statement, calling the claims “sickening lies” and insisting he was not holding a gun. The family said he had a phone in his right hand and his left hand raised while trying to protect a woman they said ICE officers had pushed down, as he was pepper-sprayed. They urged the public to “get the truth out” and described Pretti as “a good man.”
Gregory Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol said: “This is only the latest attack on law enforcement,” adding that DHS personnel across the country have been “attacked, shot at.”
What Happens Next
Minnesota officials say the state will lead the investigation, though disputes over jurisdiction and access to evidence remain unresolved.
Protests are expected to continue in Minneapolis and beyond as lawmakers debate immigration enforcement—and as the January 30 government funding deadline approaches.
