By Ayomide otitoju
The killing of a United States citizen by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday has sparked fresh protests and renewed calls from local leaders for the Trump administration to halt its immigration enforcement operation in the city.
Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, during an altercation on an icy roadway. The incident occurred less than three weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers fatally shot another 37-year-old resident, Renee Good, in her vehicle, marking the second such killing in the city this month.
The Trump administration said Pretti posed a threat to federal agents, a claim echoed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said a pistol and ammunition were recovered at the scene. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti intended to “perpetuate violence,” while White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described him as an “assassin” in a social media post shared by Vice President JD Vance.
However, video footage circulating widely in US media appeared to contradict the government’s account. The footage shows Pretti filming federal agents and directing traffic before intervening when an officer pushed a protester to the ground. He was then sprayed with a chemical irritant and restrained by several officers before shots were fired.
Pretti’s parents, in a statement published by US media, described their son as “kindhearted” and accused the administration of spreading false information about the incident.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the shooting as “horrific” and said the state would take over the investigation, expressing distrust in a federal-led probe. Federal authorities had previously blocked local investigators from participating in the inquiry into Good’s death.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana also called for a joint federal and state investigation, warning that the credibility of ICE and DHS was at stake.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, accused Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of “inciting insurrection,” escalating tensions with state and city leaders. Trump has previously threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota.
As part of a broader deportation campaign, the administration has deployed thousands of ICE agents to Minneapolis, a move that has drawn sustained public opposition. Anger intensified earlier this week following the detention of a five-year-old boy during an operation targeting his father.
Mayor Frey urged the president to end the federal operation, saying it has fueled unrest and division. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting as “extremely volatile,” prompting the deployment of Minnesota National Guard troops to help secure the area.
Hundreds of protesters gathered later in the day despite freezing temperatures, following a massive demonstration on Friday that drew tens of thousands of people opposed to the federal enforcement effort.
O’Hara said police had no indication that Pretti had a serious criminal record and confirmed he was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit. Some gun rights groups, typically supportive of the administration, expressed concern over federal statements linking legal gun possession to violent intent.
The Gun Owners of America criticised remarks by a federal prosecutor suggesting armed individuals approaching law enforcement could be lawfully shot, insisting that the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, including during protests.
