Political Leaders Respond After ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Dies in Federal Enforcement Incident in Minneapolis

The shooting death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during a federal immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis on January 24 has intensified national debate over federal use of force and accountability.

Pretti, who worked at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and had no serious criminal record, was killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during Operation Metro Surge. His death followed another fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen, Renée Good, earlier this month in the same city.

In the days after the incident, Pretti’s name appeared at memorials and vigils across the community. Colleagues and friends remembered him as a caring medical professional devoted to supporting veterans and helping people in crisis.

The exact circumstances of the shooting are still being investigated. Federal authorities claim Pretti approached officers with a weapon and resisted being disarmed. However, videos and eyewitness accounts shared online appear to show him holding a phone just before he was shot.

Several legal analysts and former law enforcement officials who reviewed the footage have said it does not clearly demonstrate behavior that would warrant lethal force, raising further questions about the official account.

In response to the enforcement surge, Minneapolis residents have increasingly documented ICE and Border Patrol activity. Recording federal agents in public spaces is legal and viewed by many locals as a means of ensuring accountability.

The location of Pretti’s death has become a gathering place for mourning and protest. As multiple investigations continue, public attention remains focused on transparency, evidence handling, and oversight of federal enforcement actions.