Videos quickly emerged Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by a Border Patrol agent. Political leaders in Minnesota have stated that the footage reveals the encounter as a result of overreactions from untrained federal officers, while the Trump administration claimed that Pretti provoked the violence.
This incident marks the second shooting by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis this month, following a similar event on January 7 involving Renee Good, which also ignited political division.
On Saturday, around 9 a.m., a Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti, following a brief scuffle. The Trump administration stated that shots were fired in defense against Pretti, who reportedly had been resisting officers.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who viewed the videos, expressed horror at the scene, saying he witnessed officers overwhelming one of the city's residents and fatally shooting him. Frey labeled the situation a massive federal immigration crackdown, described as Operation Metro Surge, which he believes is invading the local community.
The Department of Homeland Security's Secretary, Kristi Noem, accused Pretti of attacking the officers in his attempt to intervene. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino expressed that Pretti's actions intended to cause significant harm to law enforcement. Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, called Pretti a potential assassin on social media.
The altercation began when federal agents pursued a man wanted for domestic abuse. Protesters, including Pretti, attempted to obstruct the operation, shouting and using whistles. Video footage shows Pretti engaged in conversation with officers when tensions escalated. As officers used pepper spray, Pretti was ultimately grappled to the ground by multiple agents, resulting in the officer firing the fatal shots.
In the wake of this event, both local and federal officials have been involved in contentious exchanges, with Governor Walz expressing deep concern over the incident's nature and the overall escalation of violence in border patrol operations. Trump also weighed in on the matter, redirecting criticism towards state authorities for their role in immigration enforcement.
