Thousands have took to the streets in Minnesota and other US cities (such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles) to protest the killing of Alex Pretti a 37 year old intensive care nurse and US citizen who was fatally shot by Federal Border Patrol Agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 24 2026. Protests have been ongoing in Minneapolis for quite some time ranging from reasons such as brutality of Federal Border Patrol agents and the killing of a US citizen Renee Good; however the recent killing of Alex Pretti by Federal Border Patrol Agents seems to have intensified the protests which has now spread beyond the borders of Minnesota. State Authorities in Minnesota have called for the withdrawal of 3000 ICE and Federal Border Patrol Agents. Both Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have given their stance on this issue, they both support the public's right to peaceful protest and have condemned the federal government actions, which they argue is the source of the chaos that led to the protests and turmoil. President Donald Trump in relation to the issue stated that both the White House and the FBI are investigating the killing of Alex Pretti. He also announced that he would send his Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to lead operations and coordinate with local officials in an effort to "cooperate" and potentially pull back federal agents "at some point". The killing of Alex Pretti has not only sparked criticism and protests, it has also sparked debates about gun rights and seems to be driving a rift between the Republican party members and the Democrats party members of the United States.
President Donald Trump initially blamed the killing of Alex Pretti on what he tagged as a "Democrat endued chaos". Trump via his used Social Media (Truth Social) blamed Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey for fueling and propagating protests. He also accused them of leaving federal agents unprotected and some Republicans also share the same opinion as President Trump. Regarding the issue of gun rights, the US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that the agents fired defensive shots and that Pretti was holding a gun with which he intended to use to harm the law enforcement individuals. According to the video recorded by the witness at the scene Pretti was holding just a phone to record before he was forced down to the ground and shot ten times within 5 seconds. It was however established that Alex Pretti had a SIG Sauer P320 9mm semi-automatic pistol under his waistband which is a legally permitted firearm in Minnesota. There is however no visual evidence of Alex Pretti attacking the ICE operatives with a gun.
