Two Border Patrol agents are now on administrative leave in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of protester Alex Pretti on Saturday in Minneapolis.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a preliminary review on Tuesday, confirming that the agents fired their weapons after Pretti resisted custody and was found carrying a loaded Sig Sauer pistol. The agents have been placed on administrative leave, which DHS noted is standard protocol following such events.
The shooting marks the second fatal incident in less than three weeks, following the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, on Jan. 7 after she allegedly rammed her car into an ICE agent. The mounting body count has ignited protests across the state, with many demanding answers.
Details from the DHS review paint a tense picture of the weekend encounter. Body camera footage and CBP documents show agents attempting to remove Pretti from the street, only for a scuffle to erupt when he resisted, the New York Post reported. A shout of “He’s got a gun!” from an agent preceded at least 10 shots fired, ending with Pretti pronounced dead within half an hour despite efforts to save him.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine further details, while DHS admits it remains unclear if Pretti’s weapon misfired during the chaos. This uncertainty only fuels the fire for those skeptical of the official narrative. Why the rush to lethal force if the threat wasn’t fully confirmed?
Protests have swept Minnesota as local and national leaders call for President Trump to withdraw ICE and Border Patrol from the state. Governor Tim Walz, the former vice presidential nominee, met with border czar Tom Homan on Monday, describing the discussion as having “progress.” But progress toward what—more federal boots on the ground or a genuine de-escalation?
Walz didn’t stop there, insisting Minnesota needs to “return to normalcy” by clearing out all federal agents. His phone call with Trump on Monday was deemed “productive,” suggesting a potential shift in policy. Yet, with US Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and other agents already pulling out of Minneapolis, one wonders if the damage is already done.
Trump’s own Truth Social post hinted at cooperation, stating, “Both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!” That’s a noble sentiment, but skeptics might ask if “better” means more roundups of unauthorized migrants or a rollback of operations that have turned streets into battlegrounds.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears sidelined as Homan takes the reins in Minnesota, leaving her role in the administration uncertain. For those wary of bureaucratic bloat, this shuffle might signal inefficiency at the top. Is DHS even on the same page, or are we watching a power struggle unfold amid tragedy?
The DHS findings, already turned over to congressional oversight committees, rely on body camera footage and internal documents. But transparency feels hollow when the identities of the agents who fired remain undisclosed. If the goal is public trust, why the secrecy?
Pretti’s death is a gut punch to a community already reeling from federal-state tensions. As an ICU nurse, he likely saved lives in his career, only to lose his own in a split-second confrontation. That irony stings for anyone who values the sanctity of life over policy disputes.
The earlier shooting of Renee Good shows a pattern that’s hard to ignore. Federal authorities claim she posed a direct threat, but two deaths in such a short span suggest either poor training or a trigger-happy approach to enforcement. Which is it, DHS?
Governor Walz’s push to remove federal agents aligns with a broader frustration over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the state. While securing borders matters, turning local streets into flashpoints for violence undermines the very safety these policies claim to protect. Is this the law and order we were promised?
For now, Minneapolis waits for autopsy results and further investigation, but the wounds—both literal and civic—run deep. Protests continue, and elected officials keep pressing for a pullback of federal forces. Will DHS listen, or will Minnesota remain a testing ground for hardline tactics?
