A fatal shooting by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Minneapolis has ignited widespread protests, a fierce political confrontation, and mounting calls for accountability at the highest levels of government. The incident, resulting in the death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, has placed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) aggressive immigration enforcement tactics under intense scrutiny.
In a significant development, CBP confirmed that the two agents involved in Saturday’s shooting have been placed on standard administrative leave pending a full investigation. This move follows conflicting initial reports about their status, after a CBP commander had previously stated they were merely reassigned to a different city.
The official narrative surrounding Pretti’s death has shifted substantially. Preliminary DHS reports to Congress indicate the shooting occurred during a physical altercation when an officer shouted that Pretti possessed a weapon. This account contradicts earlier statements from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who labeled Pretti’s actions ‘domestic terrorism’ and claimed he was ‘brandishing’ a firearm. BBC Verify’s analysis of available footage found no visible weapon in Pretti’s hand.
The tragedy has triggered bipartisan condemnation in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties demanding the removal of Secretary Noem and White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller. Senior House Democrats have threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against Noem unless she resigns or is dismissed.
Meanwhile, the political battle over immigration enforcement has intensified. President Trump’s ‘Operation Metro Surge’—which has led to over 3,000 arrests in Minnesota since December—faces mounting legal and political challenges. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey defiantly announced his city would maintain its sanctuary policies, prompting Trump to respond on his Truth Social platform that Frey was ‘PLAYING WITH FIRE.’
In a related development, federal Judge John Tunheim issued a strongly-worded ruling ordering the government to release all refugees arrested while awaiting permanent residency documents and to return those removed from Minnesota. The judge emphasized that refugees ‘are not committing crimes on our streets, nor did they illegally cross the border.’
The Minneapolis shooting represents the second controversial agent-involved shooting this month, following the January 7th incident where an ICE agent shot 37-year-old Renee Good, who was also placed on administrative leave.
As tensions escalate, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Justice Department has arrested 16 individuals for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement officers in Minneapolis, with ‘more arrests to come.’ The situation remains volatile with Congress considering removing DHS funding from must-pass spending legislation to prevent a government shutdown on February 1st.