Democratic politicians have expressed horror and outrage after federal law enforcement officers fatally shot a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis, identified as nurse Alex Pretti. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar described the incident as 'an execution by immigration enforcement', while other figures called for accountability and an end to federal operations in the city.
Omar said she was 'absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled' by the killing, which she argued showed federal agents 'targeting our residents instead of protecting them'. The shooting was condemned by several high-profile Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who called it 'horrific', and former Vice-President Kamala Harris, who highlighted Pretti's work as an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital.
Republicans, however, blamed Democrats for the incident. President Donald Trump accused the Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor of 'inciting insurrection' and questioned why local police did not protect federal agents. Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller claimed the victim was a 'domestic terrorist' who tried to 'assassinate federal law enforcement', though videos circulating online showed Pretti being wrestled to the ground before being shot multiple times.
The US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, argued that Minneapolis's sanctuary city status had invited 'the worst of the worst' and said Democrats were responsible for creating a dangerous environment. The shooting involved a veteran Customs and Border Protection agent, not ICE, but Democrats continued to call for federal agents to leave Minnesota and for those responsible to be held accountable.
