Protesters have gathered once again on the streets of Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by a federal immigration officer, intensifying a growing standoff between Minnesota state leaders and the Trump administration.
The shooting, which took place on Saturday, has sparked outrage across the city and beyond, with demonstrators demanding accountability and an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the state. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has renewed his call for President Donald Trump to remove federal agents from Minnesota, warning that the country is at a critical “inflection point.”
“This is not who we are supposed to be,” Walz said, arguing that the presence and actions of federal agents have undermined public trust and escalated tensions.
President Trump, however, has pushed back strongly. In a post on Truth Social, he urged Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to cooperate with federal authorities and turn over all “criminal illegal aliens” held in state prisons and local jails for deportation. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump suggested he might consider withdrawing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “at some point”, but stressed that local leaders must first comply with federal immigration laws.
State and federal officials have offered conflicting accounts of what happened in the moments leading up to Pretti’s death. Multiple videos of the shooting have circulated online, prompting calls for transparency. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said an investigation is required to establish the full facts, while a a frame-by-frame analysis is conducted of the footage.
Pretti, a US citizen and registered nurse, has been remembered by family and friends as a compassionate and dedicated professional. His parents described him as a “kind-hearted soul” and said they are seeking the “truth” about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident has drawn national attention and bipartisan concern. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy described the shooting as “incredibly disturbing”, signalling growing unease even within President Trump’s own party over the administration’s immigration crackdown.
Former President Bill Clinton also weighed in, calling the events in Minneapolis “horrible scenes” he never expected to witness in the United States. In a post on X, Clinton condemned reports of people being seized from their homes, peaceful protesters being met with force, and the fatal shootings of Pretti and another individual, Renee Good. “All of this is unacceptable and should have been avoided,” he said, urging Americans to speak out and defend democratic values.
Legal action has now followed. A US federal judge has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to preserve all evidence related to the shooting. Judge Eric Tostrud granted a temporary restraining order after Minnesota state authorities said DHS blocked them from accessing the scene. Attorney General Keith Ellison called the lawsuit an “extraordinary” and unprecedented step, warning it should alarm anyone concerned about equal justice under the law. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has maintained that her department followed standard procedures.
The American Nurses Association has also responded, paying tribute to Pretti’s life and work. ANA president Dr Jennifer Mensik Kennedy said the organisation was “deeply saddened” by his death, noting that he was caring for veterans and acting in line with the profession’s ethical code. According to family accounts, Pretti was assisting a person who had fallen in the moments before he was shot.
As protests continue and investigations unfold, the shooting has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, policing and the use of federal power within US states.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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