Natalie Portman Emotional Over ICE Operations at Sundance Premiere
Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman became visibly emotional while discussing recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations during the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The 44-year-old star, attending the premiere of her new film The Gallerist on Saturday, wore a prominent ICE OUT pin on the red carpet as she spoke with press about the escalating situation.
Tearful Comments on 'Horrible Week' for America
Portman's voice trembled as she addressed the current climate, stating: 'It's such a horrible day, it's been a horrible week. What is happening in our country is just obscene.' She continued with clear distress: 'What Trump and Kristi Noem and ICE are doing to our citizens and undocumented people is outrageous and needs to end.'
The actress expressed mixed emotions about celebrating her film amid the turmoil: 'I'm so lucky to be here in a joyful, creative community celebrating a movie we're really proud of but it's impossible to ignore what ICE is doing to our country.' She did find some solace in community response, adding: 'I'm very moved by all the people coming out and supporting each other in community and showing the best of America.'
Fatal Shooting Sparks Widespread Outrage
Portman's emotional comments came just hours after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old Minnesota resident and nurse, was shot dead during an altercation with federal agents on Saturday. While ICE operations have sparked the controversy, the shooting was actually carried out by officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed the incident in a press conference, claiming Pretti had 'reacted violently' during the encounter. She questioned why he was carrying a legally-held weapon and stated: 'He impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple, dozens of rounds of ammunition.'
Celebrity Reactions Flood Social Media
Other prominent figures quickly joined Portman in expressing outrage. Actress Mandy Moore took to her Instagram stories, reposting a New York Times article about the shooting with the added message: 'We have eyeballs. We've seen the video. They executed someone else. I'm not sure how this ends. This is terrifying territory.'
Pop star Ariana Grande reposted a tweet from NYC mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani that read: 'As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today. ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.'
Family's Heartbreaking Statement Contradicts Official Account
Pretti's family issued an emotional statement on Saturday, describing their son as 'a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.' They vehemently disputed the official narrative, calling administration statements 'sickening lies' and describing ICE agents as 'murdering and cowardly thugs.'
The family's account differs dramatically from official reports: 'Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.'
Background of the Deceased Nurse
Alex Pretti was a US citizen born in Illinois with no criminal record beyond minor traffic violations. Family members confirmed he owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Minnesota, but they had never known him to carry it. An avid outdoorsman who recently lost his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog, Pretti had participated in protests following the January 7 killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs officer.
His parents, who live in Colorado, had recently warned him to be careful when protesting. The family first learned of the shooting when contacted by an Associated Press reporter, adding another layer of trauma to their devastating loss.
Growing Public Protests Against ICE Operations
The incident has occurred amid thousands of arrests made by ICE since Donald Trump returned to the White House, sparking public protests in multiple cities. The ICE OUT movement that Portman referenced with her pin has gained momentum among activists and celebrities alike, creating a cultural flashpoint around immigration enforcement policies.
As footage from the shooting circulates and conflicting narratives emerge, the tragedy has highlighted deepening divisions in American society regarding law enforcement practices and immigration policy, with entertainment figures increasingly using their platforms to advocate for political change.
