Disturbing Footage Surfaces of ICE Encounter Preceding Fatal Shooting of Minneapolis Nurse
Chilling video evidence has emerged depicting a violent altercation between Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and federal immigration agents that occurred just eleven days before he was fatally shot by officers in Minneapolis. The approximately two-minute clip, published on Wednesday by the digital news outlet The News Movement, captures an incident on January 13th during intense community protests against the federal crackdown in the city. In the footage, officers can be seen grabbing Pretti and forcing him to the ground, highlighting the escalating tensions in the area.
Community Protests and Parallel Incidents Fuel Outrage
On the same morning, the nonprofit news site Sahan Journal reported that dozens of residents had gathered to protest and observe a federal immigration sweep in Minneapolis. Merely two blocks away, another disturbing event unfolded: a young woman named Aliya Rahman was violently pulled from her car while attempting to drive past federal immigration agents. Her rough treatment, captured in images that sparked widespread outrage, underscores the volatile atmosphere surrounding these operations.
Steve Schleicher, the attorney representing Pretti's family, issued a forceful statement condemning the actions of the agents. He emphasised, "A week before Alex was gunned down in the street – despite posing no threat to anyone – he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents. Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex's killing." This statement reinforces the family's pursuit of justice in the wake of the tragedy.
Political Fallout and Legal Challenges Intensify
In related developments, White House Border tsar Tom Homan is scheduled to address the press in Minneapolis after being dispatched to oversee the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota. An internal memo reviewed by Reuters indicates that ICE officers in the state were instructed to avoid engaging with "agitators" and to focus solely on targeting "aliens with a criminal history." Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have threatened to block legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, potentially edging the government toward a partial shutdown unless Republicans and the White House agree to new restrictions on President Donald Trump's surge in immigration enforcement.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer declared on Wednesday that Democrats will withhold necessary votes until U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is "reined in and overhauled." In posts on X, Schumer increased pressure for the removal of DHS secretary Kristi Noem and top Trump aide Stephen Miller, reiterating calls for the president to withdraw ICE agents from Minnesota. Adding to the legal turmoil, a federal judge in Minnesota blocked the Trump administration from arresting and detaining the 5,600 refugees residing in the state. U.S. district judge John R. Tunheim issued a ruling granting a temporary restraining order against Operation Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening, also known as Operation Parris, and ordered the Department of Homeland Security to release and return to Minnesota anyone already detained under the operation.
Legal Representation and Investigation Updates
The parents of Alexi Pretti have retained Steve Schleicher, a former federal prosecutor who assisted Minnesota's attorney general in convicting police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Schleicher, a partner at the Minneapolis firm Maslon who served as a special prosecutor in the 2021 trial, has taken on the case pro bono, according to PBS News. Earlier this month, the family of Renee Good, another individual killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, secured legal representation from Romanucci & Blandin, a Chicago-based firm involved in the George Floyd case that represented Floyd's family.
Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday have been placed on administrative leave, stating this is "the standard protocol." However, the exact timing of their leave remains unclear, as federal law enforcement officers involved in shootings are typically placed on administrative leave during investigations. This confirmation directly contradicts statements made by border patrol commander Greg Bovino, who told a press conference on Sunday that "all agents that were involved in that scene are working, not in Minneapolis, but in other locations, that's for their safety."
