Disturbing new video evidence has surfaced showing a violent altercation between ICU nurse Alex Pretti and federal immigration agents, occurring a full eleven days before Pretti was fatally shot by officers in Minneapolis. The approximately two-minute clip, published on Wednesday by digital news outlet The News Movement, depicts an incident on January 13th during which agents appeared to forcibly grab Pretti and bring him to the ground.
Community Protests and Parallel Incidents
This confrontation took place amidst intense community protests against a federal immigration crackdown in the city. Nonprofit news site Sahan Journal, which focuses on immigrant and communities of colour reporting in Minnesota, noted that dozens of residents had gathered that day to observe and protest a federal immigration sweep in the area.
In a strikingly similar incident that same morning, just two blocks away, a young woman named Aliya Rahman was violently pulled from her car while attempting to drive past federal immigration agents. Images of her rough treatment circulated widely, prompting significant public outrage.
Legal Representation and Family Statements
Steve Schleicher, the attorney representing Alex Pretti's family, issued a powerful statement regarding the newly revealed footage. "A week before Alex was gunned down in the street – despite posing no threat to anyone – he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents," Schleicher declared. "Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex's killing."
Broader Political Context and Enforcement
The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tension surrounding immigration enforcement. White House Border tsar Tom Homan is expected to address the press in Minneapolis after being dispatched to oversee the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
According to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters, ICE officers in the state have been directed to avoid engaging with "agitators" and to focus solely on targeting "aliens with a criminal history."
Legislative Standoff and Judicial Intervention
In Washington, Senate Democrats have threatened to block legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies. This move could bring the government closer to a partial shutdown unless Republicans and the White House agree to new restrictions on President Donald Trump's surge of immigration enforcement.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer emphasised on Wednesday that Democrats won't provide needed votes until US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is 'reined in and overhauled.' In social media posts, Schumer increased pressure for DHS secretary Kristi Noem and top Trump aide Stephen Miller to resign, while repeating calls for the president to withdraw ICE agents from Minnesota.
In a significant judicial development, a federal judge in Minnesota blocked the Trump administration from arresting and detaining approximately 5,600 refugees living within the state. US district judge John R Tunheim granted a temporary restraining order against Operation Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening ("Operation Parris"), responding to a request from the Advocates for Human Rights. The judge further ordered the Department of Homeland Security to release and return to Minnesota anyone already detained under the operation.
Legal Teams and Investigation Protocols
The parents of Alex Pretti have retained Steve Schleicher, a former federal prosecutor who notably helped Minnesota's attorney general convict police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Schleicher, a partner at the Minneapolis firm Maslon who served as a special prosecutor in the 2021 trial, has taken on Pretti's case pro bono according to PBS News reports.
This follows a pattern, as earlier this month the family of Renee Good, who was also killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, retained another lawyer involved in the George Floyd case – the Chicago-based firm Romanucci & Blandin, which represented Floyd's family.
Official Responses and Contradictions
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed that the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday have been placed on administrative leave, stating this is "standard protocol." However, it remains unclear exactly when this administrative leave commenced.
Federal law enforcement officers involved in shootings are typically placed on administrative leave for the duration of the investigation. This confirmation directly contradicts statements made by border patrol commander Greg Bovino following the shooting. On Sunday, Bovino told a press conference that "all agents that were involved in that scene are working, not in Minneapolis, but in other locations, that's for their safety."
