Border Patrol Agent Kills Minneapolis Man During ICE Protests

Federal Agent Shoots 37-Year-Old During Minneapolis Immigration Crackdown

A 37-year-old Minneapolis man was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on January 24, 2026, during ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city. The victim, identified as Alex Pretti, was killed at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis, marking the third shooting by federal immigration agents in the city within three weeks.

Conflicting Accounts of the Shooting

The Department of Homeland Security claims Pretti approached agents with a handgun during an immigration enforcement operation. 'The individual was armed and presented a threat to our officers,' a DHS spokesperson told AP News. However, video footage analyzed by The New York Times appears to show Pretti holding a cell phone, not a firearm, before being tackled and shot multiple times.

Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara confirmed Pretti was a licensed gun owner with no criminal record. 'He was a law-abiding citizen with a valid firearms permit,' O'Hara stated, adding that the shooting investigation is ongoing.

Immediate Protests and Political Fallout

The shooting triggered immediate protests, with demonstrators confronting federal agents and blocking streets with barricades. Federal agents responded with tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the incident, writing on social media: 'Minnesota is done with this. The President must end this operation immediately and withdraw these thousands of violent, untrained agents from our state.'

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned how many more people must die before the federal operation ends. 'How many people have to be killed or shot before this stops?' he asked, calling for ICE to be driven from the city.

Broader Context of ICE Operations

The shooting occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, a massive immigration enforcement operation ordered by the Trump administration that has deployed thousands of federal agents to Minnesota. The operation began after the January 7, 2026 fatal shooting of Renée Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent.

According to Wikipedia, ICE has faced increasing controversy since its expansion under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, becoming the largest federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history. Critics describe it as a militarized police force operating with limited accountability.

National Guard Activated, Investigations Underway

The Pentagon has placed 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota, while state officials have mobilized the National Guard. The Department of Justice is investigating whether federal agents violated civil rights protections during their response to protesters.

Community organizer Maria Rodriguez, who witnessed the shooting, told reporters: 'This is what happens when you bring thousands of armed, masked agents into our communities. They're not here to protect us—they're here to terrorize us.'

The incident highlights growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities, with Minneapolis becoming a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration policy and law enforcement practices.