VA Nurse Alex Pretti Shot Dead by Border Patrol in Minneapolis: Video Contradicts Federal Claims
A 37-year-old U.S. citizen and intensive care unit nurse was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in south Minneapolis on Saturday morning, becoming the second American killed by federal immigration officers in less than three weeks as violent confrontations escalate between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration’s massive immigration crackdown.
Who Was Alex Pretti? ICU Nurse Killed During Minneapolis ICE Protest
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a registered nurse working in the intensive care unit at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot multiple times around 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, near the intersection of 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis.
The 37-year-old American citizen had no criminal history beyond traffic violations, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid concealed carry permit in Minnesota, where the state allows open carry for licensed permit holders.
From Wisconsin to Minnesota: Pretti’s Background
Born in Illinois and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Pretti graduated from Preble High School before pursuing a nursing career dedicated to serving military veterans. State records show he was registered as a nurse in Minnesota since 2021, with his license set to expire on March 31, 2026.
At the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Pretti not only provided critical care to veterans but also assisted with scientific research, according to hospital records.
“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world,” his parents Michael and Susan Pretti said in an emotional statement released Saturday evening. “He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE.”
Why Was Pretti Protesting Immigration Enforcement?
Pretti’s father told The Associated Press that his son had participated in multiple protests following the January 7 shooting death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three killed by an ICE agent. Like thousands of other Minneapolis residents, Pretti felt compelled to demonstrate against what he viewed as aggressive and dangerous federal immigration tactics.
“He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express his care for others,” Michael Pretti explained. “He was a kind-hearted soul who wanted to make a difference through his work as a nurse.”
What Happened: Minute-by-Minute Account of the Fatal Shooting
Federal Agents Conducting Operation Metro Surge Raid
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino stated that officers were pursuing an individual in the country illegally who was wanted for domestic assault when the deadly encounter occurred. The operation was part of “Operation Metro Surge,” the Trump administration’s unprecedented deployment of approximately 3,000 federal agents to Minneapolis—outnumbering the city’s sworn police officers.
Protesters had gathered in the area, attempting to disrupt federal immigration operations by sounding high-pitched whistles, honking car horns, and shouting warnings to community members—tactics that have become standard practice in Minneapolis since the massive federal deployment began in December 2025.
Conflicting Stories: Federal Claims vs. Video Evidence
The Department of Homeland Security claims Pretti approached Border Patrol officers while armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun (identified as a SIG Sauer Emperor Scorpion) and two loaded magazines, and that he “violently resisted” when agents attempted to disarm him.
“Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated in an official release.
However, multiple verified bystander videos tell a dramatically different story—one that directly contradicts the federal government’s narrative.
Frame-by-Frame: What the Videos Actually Show
CBS News and other major media outlets have verified footage captured from multiple angles showing the complete sequence of events:
9:00 a.m. – Before the shooting: Video clearly shows Pretti standing in the street, holding his mobile phone in his right hand and filming federal agents. His left hand appears empty and is raised. This is a common practice among Minneapolis protesters who document immigration enforcement operations to protect community members and ensure accountability.
9:01 a.m. – Confrontation begins: An agent pushes a woman to the ground. Pretti steps forward to help her up. As he reaches toward the fallen protester, federal agents spray him directly in the face with pepper spray or another chemical irritant.
9:01 a.m. – The struggle: Multiple masked agents—at least six according to witness accounts—tackle Pretti to the ground. The verified videos clearly show agents punching him repeatedly in the head and body while attempting to restrain him. Someone off-camera shouts what sounds like a warning about the presence of a gun.
9:02 a.m. – Gun removed: Video footage shows one of the agents removing a gun from Pretti’s body (federal officials later claimed it was in his waistband) and stepping away from the group with the weapon in hand.
9:02 a.m. – Fatal shots fired: An officer with a handgun pointed at Pretti’s back fires four shots at him in rapid succession while Pretti is on the ground and subdued. Several more shots can be heard as another agent appears to fire at Pretti as well.
9:03 a.m. – Aftermath: The agents back away, leaving Pretti lying motionless and bleeding in the middle of the residential street. Bystanders are heard screaming in horror. Federal medics eventually provided aid, but Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.
Critical Unanswered Question
Federal officials have repeatedly refused to answer when asked whether Pretti ever drew, pointed, or brandished the weapon they claim he was carrying. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated Pretti possessed a handgun and two loaded magazines but provided no information about whether he had threatened anyone with the weapon.
The videos clearly show Pretti holding his cellphone—not a gun—in the moments before agents tackled him. Legal experts note that simply possessing a firearm, which was legal under Minnesota law with his valid permit, does not justify the use of lethal force.
Minnesota Officials Slam Federal Response as “Sickening Lies”
Governor Walz: “This Is Nonsense”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz held multiple press conferences Saturday, condemning the shooting and calling the federal government’s account “nonsense” after reviewing the bystander videos.
“What I see with my eyes and what you’re going to see with your eyes makes that pretty hard to believe,” Walz said, referring to the federal claim that agents acted in self-defense. “This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. It’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state.”
Walz spoke twice with the White House on Saturday, demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw the estimated 3,000 federal agents from Minnesota.
“Minnesota has had it. This is sickening,” the Democratic governor posted on X (formerly Twitter). “The president must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
Family Accuses Trump Administration of Lying About Son
In an emotional statement released Saturday evening, Pretti’s parents directly accused the Trump administration of spreading disgusting lies about their son to justify his killing.
“Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs,” Michael and Susan Pretti said. “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.”
The family, described as “heartbroken but also very angry,” pleaded with the public and media: “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Confirms: Legal Gun Owner, No Criminal Record
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara emphasized at a Saturday afternoon press conference that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry and an American citizen with no serious criminal history.
O’Hara also revealed that Pretti was shot multiple times, possibly by more than one federal officer, raising additional questions about whether the use of lethal force was justified.
The police chief complained that DHS officials blocked local Minneapolis police from fully accessing the crime scene and conducting a proper investigation—a claim later supported by court filings.
Trump Administration Doubles Down: Labels American Citizen a “Domestic Terrorist”
White House Advisor Makes Unsubstantiated Claims
Hours after the shooting—before any independent investigation was conducted—White House senior advisor Stephen Miller claimed without evidence that Pretti was a “domestic terrorist” who “tried to assassinate federal law enforcement.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this inflammatory characterization, stating that Pretti “committed an act of domestic terrorism” by coming with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation.
Neither Miller nor Noem provided any evidence to support these serious accusations against an American citizen who had no criminal record beyond traffic tickets.
President Trump Attacks Minnesota Officials on Social Media
President Donald Trump weighed in Saturday afternoon via his Truth Social platform, sharing photographs of the firearm federal agents claim they recovered from Pretti’s body and lashing out at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
“The mayor and the governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric!” Trump posted. “Let our ICE patriots do their job!”
Trump also questioned why Minneapolis police weren’t protecting federal agents and accused Democratic state and local officials of undermining law enforcement and creating dangerous conditions.
Defense Secretary Hegseth: “ICE > MN”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was born in Minneapolis, posted a controversial message on social media defending the shooting.
“Thank God for the patriots of @ICEgov — we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country,” Hegseth wrote. “Shame on the leadership of Minnesota — and the lunatics in the street. ICE > MN.”
The post sparked immediate backlash from Minnesota residents who viewed it as inflammatory and insensitive given that an American citizen with no criminal record had just been killed on a Minneapolis street.
Federal Judge Orders Evidence Preservation in Emergency Ruling
Hennepin County Files Emergency Lawsuit
Late Saturday night, the Hennepin County Attorney’s office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed an emergency lawsuit in federal court to prevent the destruction of evidence related to Pretti’s shooting.
County Attorney Mary Moriarty expressed concern that federal authorities might destroy or alter critical evidence before state investigators could properly examine it.
Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against DHS
Federal Judge Eric C. Tostrud granted a temporary restraining order Saturday night, explicitly prohibiting DHS officials and anyone working on their behalf from destroying or altering any evidence related to the fatal shooting.
The court order states: “Defendants, together with their employees, agents, and anyone acting in concert with them, are ENJOINED from destroying or altering evidence related to the fatal shooting involving federal officers that took place in or around 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, including but not limited to evidence that Defendants and those working on their behalf removed from the scene and/or evidence that Defendants have taken into their exclusive custody.”
A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled for Monday morning, January 27, 2026.
Federal Agents Blocked State Investigation
According to court documents filed Saturday night, federal agents initially asked Minneapolis police officers to leave the scene after the shooting. Minneapolis Police Department refused and remained to secure the crime scene.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension—the state agency legally responsible for investigating officer-involved shootings—was prevented from accessing critical evidence and conducting its standard investigation, state officials reported in court filings.
Minneapolis Assistant City Attorney Heather Robertson submitted a sworn declaration stating that Minneapolis police had to insist on remaining at the scene and that an MPD officer rode in the ambulance with Pretti to the hospital to ensure a law enforcement presence.
Eyewitness Account Contradicts Federal Claims in Court Filing
Children’s Entertainer Provides Sworn Testimony
In a sworn declaration submitted to federal court Saturday night, an eyewitness described as “a children’s entertainer who specializes in face painting” provided detailed testimony that directly contradicts the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the shooting.
The witness, whose name was redacted in court documents for safety reasons, stated they were standing next to Pretti when federal agents arrived.
“The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through,” the witness stated under oath.
Witness Describes Unprovoked Aggression
According to the sworn testimony: “The ICE agents approached us, told us to back up, back up. I’m not even sure why we were helping them, if anything. And I got on the snow bank, and next thing I knew, they shot him.”
The witness said that immigration agents pepper-sprayed three observers, including Pretti, before an agent shoved a woman to the ground—the action that prompted Pretti to step forward to help her.
The eyewitness account provides crucial independent verification of what the bystander videos show and raises serious questions about the federal government’s claim that Pretti was the aggressor.
Chaos Erupts: Tear Gas, Stun Grenades, and National Guard Deployment
Hundreds Protest in Sub-Zero Temperatures
Within one hour of the shooting, over 100 Minneapolis residents assembled at the scene to protest. News about the shooting spread rapidly through Signal group chats and other rapid response networks that community activists have established to monitor federal immigration operations.
By Saturday evening, hundreds of protesters had converged on the scene despite temperatures plunging to minus 21 degrees Celsius (approximately minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Federal Agents Deploy Chemical Weapons Against Protesters
Federal agents fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades at protesters, creating chaotic scenes in the residential south Minneapolis neighborhood. Video footage shows clouds of chemical irritants engulfing residential streets as demonstrators scattered.
Protesters chanted “I smell Nazis” and screamed profanities at federal officers, calling them “cowards” and demanding they leave Minnesota. One federal officer responded mockingly as he walked away, telling protesters, “Boo hoo.”
At least one person was pepper-sprayed during the clashes, and two protesters were arrested after attempting to cross police tape to reach the scene where Pretti lay dead.
DHS Claims Officer Lost Finger
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed that one federal officer had part of his finger bitten off by a demonstrator and would lose the finger. No independent verification of this claim has been provided, and no arrests for assault on a federal officer have been announced.
Minnesota National Guard Deployed to Minneapolis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey formally requested Minnesota National Guard assistance Saturday evening to support local law enforcement as tensions continued to escalate.
Governor Walz activated National Guard members to help Hennepin County and Minneapolis police maintain peace, while urging residents to remain calm.
“They want chaos,” Walz said, referring to the Trump administration. “We cannot and we will not give them what they want by beating violence with violence.”
Minneapolis officials also announced that all MPD officers have had their days off canceled due to the crisis.
Minneapolis Files for Emergency Court Order to Halt ICE Operations
City Seeks Immediate Restraining Order
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Saturday evening that the city would file additional court documents Monday morning asking a federal judge to immediately grant a temporary restraining order that would halt Operation Metro Surge.
“The relief we’re asking for is stopping this Operation Metro Surge in the immediacy,” Frey stated during a press conference alongside Minnesota’s congressional delegation.
What the City Is Asking Courts to Do
The proposed emergency restraining order would seek to:
- Immediately stop federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis
- Require the removal of the estimated 3,000 federal agents from the city
- Declare the deployment of thousands of federal agents unlawful and unconstitutional
- Prevent future operations without coordination with local authorities
- Establish oversight mechanisms for any future federal operations
Cities Call Situation “Unprecedented” and “Dangerous”
In a joint letter to the court, city attorneys for Minneapolis and St. Paul wrote: “We need the Court to act to stop this Surge before yet another resident dies because of Operation Metro Surge.”
The letter, signed by the Minnesota solicitor general, the Minneapolis city attorney, and the St. Paul city attorney, asked Judge Katherine Menendez to reconsider her earlier decision to convert the temporary restraining order request into a preliminary injunction motion.
“This City Has Been Under Siege” – Congressional Delegation Responds
Senator Klobuchar: 3,000 Federal Agents Outnumber Local Police
Senator Amy Klobuchar emphasized at Saturday’s press conference that approximately 3,000 federal agents are currently operating in Minneapolis—a force larger than the city’s entire sworn police department.
“This is completely out of whack, out of balance,” Klobuchar said. “And now three people have been shot, two resulting in death. This city has been under siege. This is not the America that is ours, this has got to stop.”
The senior Minnesota senator called for a “full and transparent” investigation involving state and local law enforcement agencies, not just federal officials investigating themselves.
“Our message is really clear and straightforward: We need ICE out of Minnesota,” Klobuchar stated. “They are not making us more safe—as the tragic, tragic killing this morning as people saw it viscerally on that video shows us—they are making us less safe.”
Senator Smith Calls It an “Execution”
Senator Tina Smith went further, directly calling Pretti’s death an execution rather than a lawful use of force.
“Eyewitness video shows once again reckless, violent, and dangerous federal agents taking the life of a Minnesotan,” Smith said. “All Americans should be outraged at this unaccountable, violent federal force which is operating with impunity in our city.”
Smith joined other Minnesota lawmakers in demanding the immediate withdrawal of federal agents from the state.
Representative Omar: Minneapolis Is a “War Zone”
Representative Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis in Congress, called the shooting “an execution” and accused President Trump of transforming Minnesota’s largest city into a war zone.
“To the Trump administration and the Republicans in Congress who have stood silent: Get ICE out of our state NOW,” Omar wrote on social media.
Second American Citizen Killed by ICE in Three Weeks
Renee Good Shot January 7
The killing of Alex Pretti came less than three weeks after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026.
Good, a mother of three, was killed when an immigration officer fired into her vehicle during an enforcement operation. Her death sparked massive protests across Minneapolis, with thousands taking to the streets in subfreezing temperatures.
Mayor Frey responded to Good’s killing by publicly demanding that ICE “get the f*** out of Minneapolis”—language he has continued to use following Pretti’s death.
Third Shooting: Venezuelan Man Wounded
A third shooting involving federal agents occurred between the Good and Pretti incidents, when a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg during an immigration enforcement operation. That individual survived but required hospitalization.
Three Shootings in 17 Days
The string of shootings—three in just 17 days, with two American citizens killed—has transformed Minneapolis into what state and local officials describe as an occupied war zone.
“Three people shot, two dead, in 17 days,” Governor Walz said. “This is not normal. This is not acceptable. This is not America.”
Operation Metro Surge: Trump’s Unprecedented Immigration Crackdown
Largest Federal Deployment in Recent History
President Trump campaigned on promises of conducting “the largest deportation program in American history.” Since taking office in January 2025, his administration has deployed thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and Border Patrol agents to Democrat-led cities across the country.
Minneapolis has become the epicenter of this enforcement effort, with federal officials publicly stating they will remain in Minnesota “until every person in the U.S. illegally is detained.”
3,000 Federal Agents Occupy Twin Cities
According to CBS News confirmation and congressional testimony, nearly 3,000 federal agents are currently on the ground in Minnesota—primarily concentrated in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
This force includes:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents
- Border Patrol tactical teams
- Department of Homeland Security personnel
- Federal Bureau of Investigation support units
The deployment represents one of the largest concentrations of federal law enforcement in a single American city outside of major national security events.
2,500 Arrests Since December
Homeland Security reports making approximately 2,500 arrests since Operation Metro Surge officially began in December 2025. However, state officials have documented numerous cases of American citizens being detained, handcuffed, and held for hours based on racial profiling.
Children Detained, Schools on Lockdown
Protesters and community advocates have demonstrated against federal agents’ detention of children, including a widely reported incident involving a five-year-old boy who was separated from family members during an immigration operation.
Schools throughout Minneapolis have been forced into lockdown to protect students when federal operations occur nearby, disrupting education for thousands of children.
Congressional Response: Even Republicans Express Concern
Louisiana Republican Calls for Full Investigation
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana broke ranks with his party Saturday, calling for a “full” state and federal investigation into the shooting.
“The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake,” Cassidy posted on social media. “There must be a full joint federal and state investigation.”
Cassidy’s statement represents a rare public criticism from a Republican senator of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
Minnesota Congressional Delegation United
Minnesota’s Democratic congressional delegation—including Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, along with Representatives Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, Angie Craig, and Dean Phillips—has united in demanding the immediate withdrawal of federal agents.
The delegation held a joint press conference Saturday afternoon calling for:
- Immediate end to Operation Metro Surge
- Withdrawal of all federal agents from Minnesota
- Independent state-led investigation into all three shootings
- Congressional oversight hearings on federal immigration tactics
- Department of Justice civil rights investigation
Reactions from Wisconsin and Illinois: Pretti’s Home States
Chicago Mayor Calls for Abolishing ICE
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose city neighbors Minnesota, called for completely abolishing ICE in response to Pretti’s death.
“Masked federal agents in Minnesota just shot and killed another person,” Johnson posted. “We must put a stop to Trump’s ICE. Now. Stop the funding, stop the occupations, stop the killings.”
Illinois Governor Demands Congress Cut Funding
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, where Pretti was born, demanded that Congress immediately stop funding federal immigration enforcement operations.
“Masked federal agents in Minnesota just shot and killed another person. We must put a stop to Trump’s ICE. Now. Stop the funding, stop the occupations, stop the killings,” Pritzker wrote on social media.
Green Bay Mourns Preble High School Graduate
Green Bay, Wisconsin Mayor Eric Genrich released a statement noting that Pretti was a graduate of Preble High School in his city.
“Another American citizen is dead as the result of the federal government’s occupation of an American city, and the victim, Alex Pretti, was a graduate of a Green Bay high school,” Genrich said.
Wisconsin State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner added: “It is not surprising that Alex was a nurse with roots in Green Bay, a place where we believe in taking care of each other and respecting human dignity.”
Legal and Constitutional Questions at the Heart of the Crisis
Use of Force Standards: Was the Shooting Justified?
Legal experts and constitutional law scholars note that even if Pretti had been carrying a firearm—as federal authorities claim—Minnesota law explicitly permits open carry for individuals with valid permits.
Simply possessing a weapon does not justify the use of lethal force under established law enforcement use-of-force doctrine. Police and federal agents must demonstrate an immediate, articulable threat before deadly force can be lawfully employed.
The critical question that federal officials refuse to answer: Did Pretti ever draw, point, or threaten anyone with the alleged weapon?
Videos clearly show Pretti holding his cellphone—not a gun—in the moments before agents tackled him. Even if a gun was later found on his person or removed during the struggle, legal experts question whether shooting a subdued person on the ground constitutes justified use of force.
Federal vs. State Jurisdiction: Who Investigates?
The conflict over who investigates the shooting highlights broader constitutional questions about federal authority within state borders.
Minnesota officials argue that state law enforcement agencies should investigate all shootings occurring on Minnesota soil, regardless of who pulled the trigger. They point to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s legal mandate to investigate officer-involved shootings.
Federal authorities claim exclusive jurisdiction over their own officers’ actions, arguing that federal agents cannot be investigated by state officials.
This jurisdictional dispute could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court if the conflict continues to escalate and lower courts issue conflicting rulings.
Tenth Amendment and State Sovereignty
Minnesota’s lawsuit argues that Operation Metro Surge violates the Tenth Amendment, which reserves to states all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government.
The state contends that DHS agents have essentially commandeered state police resources by forcing local law enforcement to respond to chaos created by federal operations, clean up federal crime scenes, and protect communities from federal agents’ aggressive tactics.
First Amendment: Suppression of Protesters
Civil rights attorneys argue that federal agents are violating protesters’ First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly and free speech by using chemical weapons, stun grenades, and physical force against demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights.
The lawsuit cites numerous examples of peaceful protesters being pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed, arrested, and in Pretti’s case, killed while exercising their right to protest government actions.
Community Impact: Minneapolis Residents Living in Fear
Vigils Honor Pretti’s Memory
A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night on Summit Avenue and Lexington Parkway to honor Alex Pretti’s memory. Hundreds of Minneapolis residents gathered despite sub-zero temperatures to remember the fallen nurse and demand accountability.
A growing memorial has appeared on “Eat Street” (the Nicollet Avenue corridor) in south Minneapolis near where Pretti was killed. The sidewalk is now covered with candles, flowers, handwritten messages, and photographs honoring both Pretti and Renee Good.
GoFundMe Raises Over $230,000 in Hours
An online fundraiser established to help Pretti’s family raised more than $230,000 within just a few hours Saturday night, with over 6,500 individual donations pouring in.
“This fundraiser is intended to support the loved ones he leaves behind with immediate and ongoing needs,” organizers wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Because details are still unfolding, and to ensure the money goes to the right person, funds will not be distributed until we can verify next-of-kin and identify the appropriate family representative.”
Protests Continue Despite Dangerous Cold
The day before Pretti’s death, thousands of Minnesotans marched through Minneapolis in subzero temperatures for a peaceful rally calling on ICE to leave the state.
Following Saturday’s shooting, protests have continued daily despite temperatures reaching life-threatening levels. Demonstrators have gathered at:
- Federal buildings downtown
- ICE detention facilities
- The locations where Good and Pretti were killed
- Minneapolis City Hall
- The Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul
Community Organizing Networks Expand
Minneapolis residents have organized sophisticated rapid response networks using encrypted messaging apps like Signal to alert neighbors when federal agents conduct operations.
These networks coordinate:
- Peaceful interventions designed to slow or disrupt immigration enforcement
- Documentation through video recording
- Legal observer deployment
- Community protection strategies
- Know-your-rights education
“Sanctuary” Spaces and Legal Support
Local churches, community centers, and nonprofits have established “sanctuary” spaces where immigrants and their families can seek refuge from federal agents.
Organizations are providing:
- Free legal consultations
- Know-your-rights training
- Emergency financial assistance
- Mental health counseling
- Childcare for families affected by raids
Economic Impact on Minneapolis
According to court documents, the Minneapolis Police Department began tracking overtime costs related to Operation Metro Surge on January 7. By January 9, MPD officers had worked more than 3,000 hours of overtime.
The estimated cost of overtime to Minneapolis taxpayers for just the period between January 8 and January 11 exceeds $2 million—money that the city argues should not be spent cleaning up after federal operations.
Businesses throughout Minneapolis, particularly in immigrant communities, have reported significant revenue losses as customers avoid areas where federal agents operate.
What Happens Next? Multiple Court Hearings Set for Monday
Evidence Preservation Hearing
Federal Judge Eric C. Tostrud will hold a hearing Monday morning, January 27, on the temporary restraining order preventing evidence destruction.
The court will hear arguments about:
- What evidence federal agents removed from the scene
- Whether DHS has properly preserved all evidence
- Whether state investigators should be granted access
- What additional protective orders may be necessary
Emergency TRO Hearing on Operation Metro Surge
Minneapolis and St. Paul city attorneys will present their case Monday for immediately halting federal immigration operations throughout the Twin Cities.
Judge Katherine Menendez, appointed by President Biden in 2021, previously declined to issue an immediate temporary restraining order last week but kept the case “on the front burner” and set aggressive deadlines for both sides.
The cities are now seeking emergency reconsideration based on:
- Pretti’s death demonstrating immediate ongoing danger
- Pattern of shootings showing systemic problems
- Constitutional violations continuing daily
- Irreparable harm to residents and communities
Department of Justice Response Expected
The Department of Justice has already filed briefs calling Minnesota’s lawsuit “legally frivolous” and arguing that the state is “effectively seeking a state veto over the enforcement of federal law.”
Federal attorneys argue that:
- Minnesota’s “sanctuary policies” have increased dangers
- Federal officers face “heightened threats and violence”
- Immigration enforcement is exclusively a federal power
- State courts have no authority over federal agents
Investigation Jurisdiction Dispute
State and federal authorities will argue over which agencies have the legal right to investigate Pretti’s shooting.
Competing investigations currently underway or blocked:
- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension: State agency blocked from accessing evidence
- Hennepin County Attorney’s Office: Working to preserve evidence and determine if state charges are warranted
- Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General: Internal federal investigation
- Department of Justice Civil Rights Division: May conduct federal civil rights investigation
- Minneapolis Police Department: Attempting to process crime scene and gather evidence
- FBI: Armored vehicles and agents appeared at scene hours after shooting
Expert Analysis: Constitutional Crisis and Historical Parallels
“Frontier” in Constitutional Law
Judge Katherine Menendez described the Minnesota lawsuit as a “frontier” in constitutional law during last week’s hearing, acknowledging that the legal questions raised have few clear precedents.
Constitutional law scholars agree that the standoff between Minnesota and the federal government represents one of the most serious federalism conflicts in modern American history.
“We’re seeing a direct collision between federal immigration enforcement authority and state police powers,” explained Professor David Schultz of Hamline University School of Law. “The resolution of this conflict will have implications far beyond Minneapolis or immigration enforcement.”
Historical Parallels to Previous Federal-State Confrontations
Historians and legal experts have drawn comparisons to previous federal-state confrontations:
1960s Civil Rights Era: Federal troops enforcing school desegregation against state resistance—though in that case, the federal government was expanding rights rather than conducting aggressive enforcement operations.
Sanctuary City Battles: Ongoing disputes over local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, though previous conflicts haven’t involved this level of federal deployment or fatal shootings.
Nullification Crises: Various historical instances when states attempted to block federal law enforcement, dating back to the 19th century.
However, experts note that the fatal shootings of American citizens with no criminal records during immigration operations represent a new and potentially more volatile dimension unprecedented in modern American history.
What Makes This Different
Several factors distinguish the current crisis from previous federal-state conflicts:
- Scale of deployment: 3,000 federal agents represents an occupation-level force
- American citizens killed: Previous immigration enforcement controversies involved non-citizens
- Bipartisan local opposition: Even some Republicans expressing concern
- Video evidence: Clear documentation contradicting federal narratives
- Sustained protests: Weeks of daily demonstrations despite extreme weather
The Bottom Line: American City on the Brink
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti—a U.S. citizen, legal gun owner, healthcare worker dedicated to serving veterans, and peaceful protester—has pushed Minneapolis to a breaking point that may reshape American federalism.
With two American citizens dead in three weeks, federal and state authorities in open constitutional conflict, nearly 3,000 federal agents occupying a major American city, and no resolution in sight, the situation continues to escalate rather than resolve.
Questions That Demand Answers
Critical questions remain unanswered:
- Why was lethal force used against a subdued person on the ground?
- Did Pretti ever actually draw or point the firearm federal agents claim he had?
- Why are federal agents blocking state investigators from examining evidence?
- How can the federal government justify calling an American citizen with no criminal record a “domestic terrorist” before any investigation?
- What legal authority permits federal agents to deploy chemical weapons against peaceful protesters?
A Family’s Grief
For Michael and Susan Pretti, these constitutional questions matter far less than their immediate, devastating loss.
Their son—a man who dedicated his life to caring for America’s military veterans, who worked in an ICU saving lives, who believed in peaceful protest and community protection—is dead, shot multiple times by federal agents while trying to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground.
“He was a good man,” they said simply—a sentiment now echoed by hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who have donated money, attended vigils, and taken to frozen streets to demand answers, accountability, and an end to what they see as a federal occupation of their city.
Monday Will Be Critical
As federal courts prepare to hear multiple emergency motions Monday morning, the nation watches to see whether this confrontation can be resolved through legal processes or whether it will continue to intensify.
The stakes could not be higher: the balance between federal power and state sovereignty, the limits of immigration enforcement authority, the constitutional rights of American citizens to protest government actions, and ultimately, whether federal agents can kill Americans on American soil with impunity.
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