Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday, sparking intense public outrage and political controversy.

The killing occurred roughly one week after Pretti was injured during a separate confrontation with federal agents at a protest against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

During that earlier incident, Pretti reportedly suffered a broken rib after being tackled by multiple officers when he intervened in what he believed was federal agents chasing a family.

Although he was released at the scene, internal documents later indicated that federal agents had been instructed to gather information on “agitators” and protesters, including images and identifications.

The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death remain heavily contested. The Department of Homeland Security initially claimed agents fired “defensively” after Pretti “approached” them with a gun.

However, multiple bystander videos of the roughly 30-second struggle appear to contradict that account, showing Pretti holding only a phone, with no visible weapon in his hands.

A Border Patrol report submitted to Congress stated that an officer repeatedly shouted, “He’s got a gun!” but did not indicate that Pretti had drawn or brandished a weapon.

Approximately five seconds later, two agents fired their weapons. Pretti was later found to be carrying a legally owned 9mm handgun, which was recovered after the shooting.

He was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center at 9:32 a.m. Minneapolis police confirmed he had no serious criminal history and held a valid firearm permit.

Political Fallout and Federal Response

The killing triggered immediate political consequences. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” a characterization that drew sharp criticism and was not initially echoed by President Donald Trump.

Noem later doubled down, asserting that agents feared for their lives and that Pretti had violently resisted arrest.

Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino went further, suggesting Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents.

In response, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the destruction or alteration of evidence related to the shooting.

Democrats in Congress introduced an impeachment resolution against Noem, collecting more than 120 signatures amid polling that showed declining public confidence.

Trump publicly defended Noem, praising her border security work, though reports indicate he privately questioned her use of the “domestic terrorist” label. She was subsequently reassigned to oversee Southern Border operations, while Trump appointed Tom Homan to take over federal immigration enforcement coordination in Minnesota.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed that some federal agents would be leaving the city and called for impartial investigations, a position echoed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Broader Backlash to Immigration Enforcement

Pretti’s death intensified public anger over aggressive ICE and CBP operations in Minnesota, particularly following the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier in the month.

Good, also 37, was unarmed when she was shot by an ICE officer while attempting to steer her car away.

Videos circulating online have further inflamed tensions, showing federal agents engaging in confrontations near children, deploying tear gas close to a preschool, threatening bystanders, and attempting to force entry into Ecuador’s consulate—prompting a formal diplomatic protest.

Educators and parents across Minnesota have reported rising fear among students, increased absenteeism, and anxiety linked to immigration raids near schools. Despite mounting criticism, the Trump administration maintains that its enforcement actions target serious criminal activity and large-scale fraud, though it has not publicly substantiated claims such as $19 billion in fraud in the state.

Investigations into Pretti’s killing remain ongoing, involving DHS, the FBI, and internal CBP reviews, as scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement continues to escalate nationwide.