A poignant sign demanding justice for Alex Pretti was displayed on bicycle handlebars during a memorial unity ride in Minneapolis, Minnesota, over the weekend. This visual symbol of grief and protest emerged as new details surfaced regarding the federal officers involved in Pretti's fatal shooting.
Agents Identified Amid Secrecy and Scrutiny
Government documents have reportedly identified the two federal officers who fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis as Jesus Ochoa, a 43-year-old border patrol agent, and Raymundo Gutierrez, a 35-year-old officer with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This revelation comes from investigative reporting by ProPublica, following CBP's refusal to publicly name the agents involved.
According to official records, both Ochoa and Gutierrez discharged their weapons during the confrontation last weekend that resulted in Pretti's death. The shooting has ignited widespread demonstrations across Minneapolis and renewed demands for comprehensive criminal inquiries into federal immigration enforcement actions.
Operation Metro Surge and Controversial Tactics
At the time of the incident, both agents were participating in Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative launched in December. This operation deployed numerous armed, masked agents throughout Minneapolis as part of a citywide sweep, raising significant concerns about transparency and accountability.
The lack of information released by CBP has drawn heightened scrutiny, particularly because this incident occurred just days after another immigration agent shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, during protests in Minneapolis. The pattern of violent encounters involving masked federal agents has intensified national debate over immigration enforcement tactics.
Political Response and Investigation Developments
Lawmakers from both major political parties have urged a full and transparent investigation into the killing of Pretti, who worked as an intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. The 37-year-old's death has become a focal point in the broader discussion about Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies.
Earlier this week, CBP sent a notice to select members of Congress confirming that two agents discharged Glock pistols during the encounter that led to Pretti's death, though the notice notably omitted their names. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, stated through a spokesperson that the agents were placed on administrative leave following the shooting.
Growing Pressure Yields Action
After days of sustained protests and mounting pressure from lawmakers, the justice department announced on Friday that its civil rights division had opened an investigation into the shooting. This development represents a significant step toward accountability, though many activists continue to demand more comprehensive reforms.
Records reportedly show that Ochoa joined CBP in 2018 as a border patrol agent, while Gutierrez began working for the agency in 2014. Gutierrez serves in CBP's office of field operations and is part of a special response team that handles high-risk missions similar to those carried out by police SWAT units. Both men are originally from south Texas.
The Trump administration's repeated dissemination of false claims about the shooting immediately following Pretti's killing has further complicated the situation, undermining public trust in official narratives. As investigations proceed, the Minneapolis community continues to grapple with the broader implications of federal immigration enforcement actions in American cities.
