Federal Immigration Agents Named in Fatal Minneapolis Shooting of Protester
Two federal immigration enforcement officers who fatally shot protester Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis street have been identified as long-serving veterans of Customs and Border Protection, according to a detailed investigative report.
Agents' Backgrounds and Operation Details
The officers involved in the January 24 incident are a Border Patrol agent in his forties and a Customs and Border Protection officer in his mid-thirties, according to government records examined by ProPublica. Both men hail from Texas and have substantial tenure with the federal agency, having joined in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
These agents were operating under "Operation Metro Surge," a controversial Trump administration initiative that deployed thousands of federal officers to Minnesota in December as part of an intensified immigration enforcement campaign. Following the shooting, both officers were placed on administrative leave pending investigation.
Official Response and Political Reactions
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection, has declined to publicly confirm the agents' identities. In a statement to media outlets, a DHS spokesperson emphasized that revealing officers' personal information "puts their lives and the lives of their families at serious risk" and constitutes dangerous doxxing.
"Our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists," the spokesperson stated. "Now, thanks to the malicious rhetoric of sanctuary politicians, they are under constant threat from violent agitators."
This position has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats, including Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who serves as ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee. Raskin argued on CNN that federal agents "should not be anonymous" and must operate under clear rules of engagement that prevent the harassment and intimidation of American citizens.
Incident Timeline and Contradictory Accounts
The preliminary review of the shooting, based on body camera footage and official documents, provides a detailed chronology of events beginning at approximately 9 a.m. on January 24. According to the report, a federal officer first encountered two female protesters blowing whistles in the roadway.
After the women refused to move when ordered, the officer pushed them aside. One woman then approached Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen. When both Pretti and the woman declined to leave the road, the agent deployed pepper spray.
A physical struggle ensued as the officer attempted to take Pretti into custody. The report notes that during this confrontation, a Border Protection agent repeatedly shouted "He's got a gun!" Approximately five seconds later, both officers discharged their service weapons—a Glock 19 and Glock 47—striking Pretti.
The protester was transported to hospital but was pronounced dead by 9:32 a.m. Notably, the official review makes no mention of Pretti brandishing a weapon before being shot, contradicting earlier claims made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her department.
Broader Context and Ongoing Investigations
This incident marks the second high-profile shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis within weeks. The Trump administration previously refused to identify the agent who killed mother-of-three Renee Good on January 7, though media outlets later identified him as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross.
The deaths of both Good and Pretti have triggered substantial protests in Minneapolis and nationwide, with thousands demonstrating against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. In response to mounting public and political pressure, the Justice Department announced on Friday that its civil division has opened an investigation into Pretti's killing, with the FBI taking lead responsibility.
President Donald Trump has attempted to moderate tensions by withdrawing Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, who had controversially described the agents involved as "victims" of the shooting. The president has called for an "honest" investigation into Pretti's death, representing a notable shift in tone following the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Good.
The preliminary review of the incident has been forwarded to Congress, though it notably omits the agents' names. As investigations continue at both departmental and federal levels, the identification of these long-serving Customs and Border Protection officers adds significant new dimensions to an already contentious national debate about immigration enforcement practices and accountability.
