International Desk
Jan 25, 2026: A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent on Saturday morning, triggering sharp criticism from Minnesota officials and intensifying tensions surrounding ongoing federal enforcement operations in the city.
The deceased was identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital and a United States citizen.
The shooting occurred less than three weeks after another fatal incident involving federal immigration personnel in the city, raising fresh concerns over the conduct of enforcement operations.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense during a confrontation, claiming the individual approached officers with a semi-automatic handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him.
However, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly disputed that account after reviewing video footage of the incident, describing the federal explanation as misleading and inconsistent with what the videos appear to show.
Footage circulating from the scene indicates that Pretti was holding a cellphone at the time he was shot, with no weapon visible in his hands.
The videos also show an agent emerging from a physical struggle with a firearm and turning away moments before the first shot was fired, a sequence that has further fueled questions about the official federal narrative.
State authorities said Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry and had no criminal history. His family rejected claims that he posed a threat, describing him as a compassionate individual devoted to his family, friends, and the military veterans he cared for in his professional role. They accused federal officials of spreading false information about the incident.
Tensions escalated further when the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that federal officials denied state investigators access to the shooting site, despite the bureau having obtained a judge-signed search warrant. The move has prompted legal challenges and intensified scrutiny of federal actions.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office would argue in court to halt the ongoing surge of federal immigration enforcement activities in the state. The City of Minneapolis has also sought emergency legal relief, requesting a temporary restraining order to pause the operation.
The incident has sparked vigils and demonstrations across Minneapolis, with protesters demanding accountability and greater oversight of federal enforcement agencies.
Political tensions have also risen, with federal and state leaders exchanging accusations over responsibility for the unrest and the broader immigration crackdown.
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