Alex Pretti, Minneapolis Nurse Killed by Immigration Agents Sparks Protests

Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive‑care nurse at a Veterans Affairs facility in Minneapolis, was shot and killed by Customs and Border Protection agents on Jan. 24, 2026 during a federal immigration‑enforcement operation. Pretti held a Minnesota concealed‑carry permit; video evidence shows he never drew his weapon and was dragged to the ground before agents opened fire. The Department of Homeland Security initially described the incident as a "violent riot" and labeled Pretti a gunman, but later revised its account after the footage contradicted those claims. The shooting prompted a memorial stop during the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee’s Roll 4 Justice tour, which highlighted the broader pattern of police and ICE actions in south Minneapolis, including the earlier raid at Las Cuatro Milpas.

The case has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics and raised questions about the use of lethal force against civilians.