A federal immigration officer's vehicle was captured in Minneapolis on Tuesday, with a woman holding a child entering under the watchful eye of agents. This scene unfolded as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents obtained by major news outlets shed new light on the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, confirming that two officers discharged their weapons during the incident.
DHS Report Details Pretti Encounter
The initial report to Congress from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), accessed by CNN and CBS News, outlines the events leading to Pretti's death. According to the document, CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody, but he resisted, resulting in a struggle. During this altercation, a border patrol agent repeatedly shouted, "He's got a gun!" Approximately five seconds later, one agent fired his Glock 19, and another discharged his Glock 47 at Pretti.
The report does not specify whether one or both bullets struck Pretti, but it notes that a firearm was recovered from him and secured in a border patrol vehicle. Notably, the account corroborates video evidence showing Pretti assisting a woman who had been confronted by agents. The document describes how CBP officers used oleoresin capsicum spray on both Pretti and the woman after they refused to move from a roadway.
Videos Show Aggressive ICE Tactics
In the wake of Pretti's killing and the death of Renee Good, which have ignited widespread outrage, numerous videos have surfaced depicting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota engaging in aggressive behavior, often in the presence of children. One video from Tuesday shows agents surrounding a crying woman holding a young girl as they detained a relative, with onlookers protesting and pleading for humanity.
Another recent clip captures armed ICE agents deploying teargas near a Minneapolis preschool, prompting residents to shout warnings about children's safety. A separate video features an ICE agent threatening an onlooker from his car, stating, "I will tell you this, brother. You raise your voice, I erase your voice." These incidents are fueling backlash against the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns, compounded by the detention of a five-year-old boy in Minneapolis.
School Officials Voice Concerns
At the Minnesota state capitol on Tuesday, educators and parents expressed deep worries about the impact of ICE raids on schools. Peg Nelson, an elementary teacher in the Columbia Heights district, highlighted the disruption, saying, "These actions have changed the very fabric of our schools and made every student, teacher and parent less safe. Students are afraid to come to school. We haven't seen absenteeism like this since Covid."
Mary Granlund, chair of the Columbia Heights school board, echoed these sentiments, noting abandoned cars and ongoing operations, and urging community support to bring children home and restore safety.
Trump Defends Administration Actions
Later on Tuesday, Donald Trump defended his administration's measures, claiming a "big investigation" into Pretti's killing and emphasizing his personal oversight. He also stood by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faces calls from Democrats to resign over her handling of immigration operations, stating, "I think she's doing a very good job. The border is totally secure."
Noem has labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" without evidence and used similar rhetoric for Good, despite video showing Good unarmed in her car, attempting to steer away before being shot three times. The Trump administration justifies its aggressive operations in Minnesota by targeting alleged "large-scale fraud schemes," with Trump claiming fraud totals could reach tens of billions of dollars, though no evidence supports this figure.
As these events unfold, the combination of detailed DHS reports, viral videos, and community outcry underscores the escalating tensions over immigration enforcement in Minnesota, with ongoing raids continuing to stir national debate.
