Thousands protest in MN as Trump asks state officials to 'cooperate'
State and federal officials remained at odds over the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old ICU nurse and the future of immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota on Sunday.
Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and registered nurse who treated veterans, was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent after confronting immigration authorities on Jan. 24. Federal officials said Pretti was carrying a gun he intended to use to "kill law enforcement." Videos from bystanders − and a witness account in court filings − do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon when he approached agents.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accused President Donald Trump of besmirching Pretti's reputation with his administration's account of the shooting and demanded he pull the "3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person."
“This family has gone through enough and to have the most powerful man in the world drag their dead son with absolutely no evidence and gaslight the entire country. This is enough,” Walz said at a news conference. “President Trump you can end this today.”
Meanwhile, top administration officials, including Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino, continued to blame Pretti for the shooting and refused to end the immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
The government’s “immigration mission continues unabated here in Minneapolis despite yesterday’s tragedy that was preventable by folks making better choices,” Bovino said at a news conference.
The fatal shooting comes just weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, 37. Pretti’s death and the disputed way it happened sparked massive protests in Minneapolis, which city officials said were "overwhelmingly calm and peaceful."
Trump asks Minnesota officials to ‘cooperate’ with federal agents
A day after 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal agents, President Donald Trump called on Minnesota Gov. Tim and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to “cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce the Nation’s laws” on a Truth Social post on Jan. 25.
He said Walz and Frey “should turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, along with all Illegal Criminals with an active warrant or known Criminal History, for Immediate Deportation.”
He also asked local police to assist federal law enforcement in detaining undocumented immigrants.
− Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Alex Pretti remembered as 'genuine person'
Jean Trebus' dad was a Vietnam War veteran and in the throes of metastatic prostate cancer when his family first met Alex Pretti.
"He was patient. He answered all of our questions. He was a genuine person, and it was obvious that he truly cared about what we were going through," Jean Trebus recalled about Pretti to USA TODAY over Facebook messenger.
Other family members of Pretti's patients and friends are now remembering a man they called a "good person."
Trebus was leaving the hospital one night when she asked Pretti for the number to check on her dad. He handed her a business card with the unit phone numbers. She carries the card on the back of her phone to this day."I'm happy that I held onto it," Trebus wrote to USA TODAY. The family nominated Pretti for a DAISY Award, which celebrates nurses for excellence in care.
− Jay Stahl
Bill Clinton issues statement: ‘The people in charge have lied'
Former President Bill Clinton issued a statement on what he called "the horrible scenes" in Minneapolis, including the ongoing presence of "masked federal agents" and the killings of Good and Pretti.
“All of this is unacceptable and should have been avoided,” Clinton wrote. “To make matters even worse, at every turn, the people in charge have lied to us, told us not to believe what we’ve seen with our own eyes and pushed increasingly aggressive and antagonistic tactics.”
Clinton called on the American public to “stand up” and “speak out.”
“If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back,” Clinton wrote.
The statement is the second issued by a former president on Jan. 25, with Barack Obama commenting on the tensions in Minneapolis earlier in the day. Former presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush have yet to comment.
Green Bay residents march in Pretti's hometown
Between 1,500 and 2,000 people turned out in single-digit temperatures in Pretti's hometown, Green Bay, Wisconsin, to protest his killing, according to police estimates.
Organizers condemned immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, the deaths of Pretti and Good, as well as the detainment of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos.
Pretti was in the Green Bay Boy Choir, among other youth activities. As a young man, he acted with the Preble Players Theatre, a performing arts group at Green Bay Preble High School, where he graduated in 2006.
− Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Minnesota Timberwolves hold moment of silence for Pretti
The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Pretti before their game against the Golden State Warriors, which was postponed in the wake of the shooting on Saturday.
It is the second moment of silence the basketball team has held, previously honoring Good with a moment of silence during a Jan. 8 game.
The moment of silence was punctuated by at least four shouts of “(expletive) ICE” from fans, as heard on video of the memorial posted on social media and reviewed by USA TODAY.
The moment of silence for Good was ended with a shout of “go home ICE,” followed by cheers.
Following the game, Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr said that the atmosphere at Target Center was "somber."
"I thought the vibe in the stands, it was one of the most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of," Kerr said during postgame media availability.
Golden State guard Moses Moody told reporters that he "definitely felt the weight of the city" and Brandin Podziemski said the arena was "just quiet, not much energy, as expected, people voicing their opinions about what's going on."
NBA players' union stands 'in solidarity' with protesters
The National Basketball Players Association issued a statement on the shootings saying, "we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties."
"Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice," the statement said.
The union expressed its condolences to the families of Pretti and Good but did not specifically comment on the presence of federal agents that has roiled the home of the Timberwolves.
USA TODAY has reached out to the union for comment on the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis.
Later in the day, former Timberwolves stalwart and current New York Knicks Karl Anthony-Towns issued a statement saying that he stands "with the people of Minnesota."
"These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people," Towns said. "This moment demands that we reflect honestly on what our values truly are."
Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton posted on X, "Alex Pretti was murdered" on Jan. 24.
'They’re blatantly lying': Protestors call for accountability
Downtown at the city’s Civic Center, Donna Jones, 52, held aloft a sign calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis. The flip side called to defund the Department of Homeland Security, prosecute ICE agents and impeach Trump.
Jones said she works in the remodeling industry and has seen workers with legal permission detained or even whisked away to another state before being released. She said friends who own restaurants have workers afraid to leave their homes.
She said she felt moved to protest with her daughter, Ayla, 22, after watching federal officials provide explanations of the recent fatal shootings that didn't appear to match video and eyewitness accounts.
“They say stuff and it’s like you can see they’re lying,” Jones said. “The trust is not there.”
The Jan. 25 protest at Civic Center drew more than 100 people, some of whom periodically marched around the block.
Ayla Jones held up a sign referencing the Nuremberg Trials, the post-WWII prosecutions of leading Nazis.
“That’s where the Nazis were held accountable,” she said. “It set the precedent that just following orders will not protect you.”
Still, both women said they were heartened to see so many other people from Minneapolis out in the streets. Donna Jones said some of her Republican acquaintances have dismissively suggested everyone out protesting is somehow being paid, rather than being moved by love for their neighbors.
“We’re all in this together,” she said
'We are angry': Thousands protest in Minneapolis after deadly shooting
Across the city, thousands of protesters and mourners assembled near where Pretti was shot, on overpasses and at the city’s Civic Center, many carrying signs demanding federal immigration officers leave the city.“We are angry. We are scared. And we are very sad about what happened,” said Minneapolis resident and new mom Leah Thompson, 31, standing near where Pretti died.
“It’s absolutely terrifying to think about what’s happening and what comes next," she added.
Border patrol agents involved in shooting moved outside of Minneapolis
Gregory Bovino said all the agents involved in the shooting of Alex Pretti “are working” but have been relocated outside Minneapolis.
“All agents that were involved in that scene are working, not in Minneapolis, but in other locations,” the Border Patrol commander said at a news conference. “We’re going to keep those agents safe.”
In most law enforcement agencies across the country, officers involved in shootings are placed on administrative leave for the duration of a use-of-force investigation. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions about Border Patrol procedures.
State officials prep for legal battle over immigration enforcement
Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were at the scene of the fatal shooting Sunday morning collecting evidence and canvassing the neighborhood after initially being denied access, Paul Schnell, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections, said at a news conference.
Minnesota officials filed a lawsuit on Saturday after BCA agents were denied access to the scene despite having a judicial warrant, a step state Attorney General Keith Ellison called "unprecedented." A federal judge subsequently issued an order barring the Trump administration from destroying or tampering with evidence related to the shooting.
Ellison is preparing to appear in court on Monday over another order in a separate lawsuit challenging the deployment itself, known as Operation Metro Surge. Ellison, citing Mayor Jacob Frey, said the operation has been drain on Minneapolis' time and resources, with local law enforcement spending over $2 million on overtime while responding to ICE.
"Minnesota is dealing with targeted oppression from the federal government because of who we are and who we value," Ellison said at a news conference Sunday.
Border Patrol official says agents are not leaving Minneapolis
Gregory Bovino said there’s no plan to end the immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis after the second killing of a U.S. citizen by federal authorities.
The government’s “immigration mission continues unabated here in Minneapolis despite yesterday’s tragedy that was preventable by folks making better choices,” Bovino said at a news conference.
Bovino spoke vaguely about Alex Pretti's shooting, saying there are “consequences” and “actions” when someone listen to “heated rhetoric” that seeks to “vilify law enforcement.”
“I think we saw that yesterday,” Bovino said. “And those actions can obviously have tragic consequences, bad outcomes. Outcomes that law enforcement never wants to see. Law enforcement never wants to see a bad consequence due to a poor choice.”
'You’ve had 24 hours to try and armchair quarterback things'
Gregory Bovino on Sunday said he would not “speculate” on the circumstances of the shooting, telling reporters he will wait for an investigation before making judgments.
“That is why we investigate so we can get to the truth so there’s not speculation,” he said at a news conference. Bovino also shot back at questions about videos that appear to contradict federal officials' account of the shooting.
“You’ve had 24 hours to try and armchair quarterback things. That agent had a split second to make a decision," he said.
Hours after the Saturday shooting, Bovino told reporters that agents fired “defensive shots” and accused Pretti of wanting “to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” Bovino has also called the agents who fired the “real victims."
Target joins dozens of companies calling for 'deescalation'
The leaders of more than 60 major Minnesota companies including Target, General Mills and Best Buy called for an "immediate deescalation of tensions" in an open letter.
The state's business community has been working behind the scenes with mayors, the governor and the White House to address the "challenges" facing Minnesotans, according to the letter. Now, they are publicly calling for peace and cooperation amongst officials.
"With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions," the chief executives wrote.
The letter comes after hundreds of businesses pledged to close their doors on Jan. 23 as part of a statewide protest against the Trump administration's ongoing immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.
Obama says Pretti killing should be a 'wake-up call to every American'
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama called the fatal shooting of Pretti a "heartbreaking tragedy" that should serve as a "wake-up call to every American" that the nation's core values are under attack.
The Obamas slammed ICE officers and other federal agents for what they called the "unprecedented tactics" that resulted in the deaths of Pretti and Good.
"And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence," the Obamas said in a statement. "This has to stop."
More demonstrations planned in Chicago, Minneapolis
Multiple solidarity demonstrations are planned for the Chicagoland area following Saturday's deadly shooting, including a rally and march through downtown Chicago at 1 p.m. A prayer vigil by multiple faith leaders is also planned for Federal Plaza in solidarity with Minneapolis, CBS Chicago reported.
The city saw multiple last-minute vigils and rallies in different neighborhoods Saturday night after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. Both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker condemned the killing in statements on social media.
"We cannot allow Trump's militarized masked police force to continue to kill innocent people with impunity," Johnson wrote. "Chicago stands in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis confronting this tyranny. We need ICE and CBP out of our cities now."
Pritzker also called for ICE to be abolished on social media, urging his fellow Republican and Democratic governors to "have a unified response," in a post on X. "We must all stand against the lawlessness being inflicted in our states."
− Kate Perez
Mamdani says ICE raids are ‘inhumane,’ pledges to fight operations in NYC
In an interview recorded a day before a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani fiercely criticized the administration's ongoing federal immigration enforcement.
Mamdani told ABC News' "This Week" that immigration agents are "terrorizing" people across the country and pledged to work to prevent similar operations from taking place in New York City.
"These ICE raids − they are cruel, they are inhumane," Mamdani said in the interview that aired Sunday. "They do nothing to serve the interests of public safety."
He said he has shared his opinions with President Donald Trump and remains in communication with the Republican leader following their White House meeting shortly after Mamdani's election. The aired interview comes a day after Mamdani took to social media to repeat his call to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency entirely.
Mamdani immigrated to the United States as a child and is a naturalized citizen. New York City is home to the largest population of immigrants by metropolitan area, according to the most recent reports from Pew Research Center.
No arrests made during 'overwhelmingly calm' protests in Minneapolis
Roads near the site where Pretti was killed have reopened after a night of "overwhelmingly calm and peaceful" protest activity, according to the city of Minneapolis. No arrests were made, there were no reports of burglaries or fires, and the Minnesota National Guard will depart the area, the city said.
Area leaders are planning to check in with local businesses and residents as crews clean up graffiti around the site on Sunday.
“The memorials and gatherings were peaceful,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement. “Thank you to our law enforcement partners, community organizations and leaders, City staff, and neighbors who helped keep things calm and safe last night. Let’s continue that collective effort today.”
Republicans call for investigation into shooting
A growing number of Republican lawmakers are weighing in on the fatal shooting in Minneapolis. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called on President Donald Trump to pause immigration enforcement operations and deescalate tensions.
"Enough…it’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government," Scott said on social media.
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy both called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
"The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing," Cassidy said in a statement on social media. "The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake."
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie also spoke out, responding to a post from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli that appeared to reference Pretti's death.
"Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right, and if you don’t understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government," Massie wrote on social media.
GoFundMe for Pretti's family raises over $433K
An online fundraiser intended to support the "immediate and ongoing needs" of Pretti's loved ones had raised more than $433,000 by Sunday morning. Organizer Keith Edwards said he has contacted Pretti's family and is working with GoFundMe to ensure they receive the money.
"If, for any reason, the funds cannot be transferred to Alex’s family, we will direct the total amount to the Immigrant Defense Project, a nonprofit that provides litigation, advocacy, and community-defense resources to help immigrants defend their rights and fight deportation," the fundraiser said.
USA TODAY has reached out to GoFundMe and Edwards to determine whether the fundraiser has been verified.
'The victims are the Border Patrol agents': Commander pressed in tense interview
Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino in a new interview didn't provide further evidence to support allegations that Alex Pretti intended to hurt or kill authorities in Minneapolis, instead calling Border Patrol agents "the victims" in the incident.
In an interview nearly 24 hours after Pretti was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent, Bovino told CNN that the facts will “come to light” after an investigation.
“With respect, it feels as though in some ways, you're blaming the victim here,” "State of the Union" host Dana Bash said nearly halfway through the interview.
“The victims are the Border Patrol agents. I'm not blaming the Border Patrol agents,” Bovino said in response. “The victims are the Border Patrol agents. The suspect put himself in that situation.”
Bovino repeatedly referred to Pretti as a “suspect” in the interview and did not respond to a question from Bash about why he was using the phrase, typically used to describe a person law enforcement is investigating for a crime. The Border Patrol official also did not offer further explanation for his previous allegation that Pretti intended to “massacre” agents when asked to explain why the nurse was shot multiple times.
In bystander footage of the shooting, Pretti, who authorities confirmed had a permit to carry a gun, is seen holding a phone, and not wielding his weapon.
Trump questions why police didn't protect ICE officers after shooting
After the shooting, President Donald Trump asked why local police did not protect ICE officers in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!” he wrote.
Trump’s comment came soon after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on the president to “take action now to remove these federal agents.” Frey and Walz have repeatedly called for an end to the aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in the state.
− Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Alex Pretti's parents speak out: 'He was a good man'
Pretti’s family released a statement late Saturday evening that expressed their grief over the 37-year-old and also celebrated him as a "hero."
The family slammed the Trump administration for its characterization of Pretti as someone who came with a gun to "kill law enforcement."
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs," the family said in a statement shared with CNN.
"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," they added.
Flash poll finds strong disapproval of ICE tactics
A one-day poll from YouGov found strong disapproval of ICE and its immigration enforcement tactics, with one-third of respondents saying that they want to abolish the agency altogether.
The survey was conducted on Jan. 24 – the same day Alex Pretti was fatally shot. On Jan. 7, an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. The poll surveyed 3,359 U.S. adults. The margin of error was not immediately clear.
ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are separate agencies but are both under the Department of Homeland Security. The two agencies work on immigration issues and have been in the Twin Cities area as part of the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement operation.
In the flash survey, a majority, 58%, called ICE’s tactics “too forceful.” Overall approval of the agency sat at 37%, and disapproval at 57%. Of that number, 48% “strongly” disapproved of the way the law enforcement agency was handling its job.
When asked about their opinions on abolishing ICE, 46% approved of the idea, with a significant portion – 37% –“strongly” on board. Another 41% opposed nixing the agency, of which 31% “strongly” opposed.
House requests ICE, Border Patrol heads testify
In the wake of the shooting, New York Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino formally requested that the heads of ICE and other immigration agencies testify at a full hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The committee invited the agency leaders to testify at a hearing on "oversight of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components charged with border security and immigration enforcement" on Jan. 15, and Garbarino formalized that request on Jan. 24.
“I take my oversight duties for the department seriously, and Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of law enforcement and the people they serve and protect," Garbarino said. "I am committed to ensuring ICE, CBP, and (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) are effectively using the historic resources provided through reconciliation to strengthen public safety, and I look forward to each of these agencies testifying before the Committee.”
Minnesota officials respond, deploy National Guard members
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced late on Saturday that he filed a lawsuit against federal officials "to prevent the destruction of evidence" related to Pretti’s shooting. Ellison’s lawsuit comes after federal authorities barred state officials from evidence related to Good’s killing.
Minnesota National Guard members on Saturday deployed at the governor’s request to secure the site of the shooting and the Whipple Federal Building, a known immigration authority staging area that’s become a hotspot for protesters, according to the statement.
"The Minnesota National Guard’s mission remains the same: preserving life, protecting property, and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights," Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, a state national guard public affairs officer, said in a statement.
Who is Alex Pretti?
Alex J. Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen and registered nurse who worked at a U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs medical center in Minneapolis, was identified as the man fatally shot by a federal officer on Saturday, amid an immigration enforcement action.
Colleagues and family described 37-year-old Minneapolis resident as a compassionate, skilled nurse who was "troubled" by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown on the Twin Cities.
Shortly after the shooting, federal officials labeled him a "domestic terrorist" who arrived at the scene of an immigration enforcement action with a gun to "inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement."
He had a permit for his firearm and multiple videos from bystanders showed him approaching officers with his phone.
Shooting witness details ICE killing in court filings
In a federal court filing on Saturday, a witness of the shooting wrote that Pretti "did not brandish a weapon of any kind" and that afterwards "agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds."
The sworn declaration to the court comes in connection to a class action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, charging the agency with using intimidation tactics reminiscent of "pre-World War II Germany or Pinochet’s Chile" to chill free speech protected under the First Amendment.
According to the court filing, the witness, whose name was redacted, is a physician who lives near where the shooting occurred. The witness woke up on Saturday to the sound of "screaming from outside" and saw Pretti "yelling at ICE agents."
"I saw him yelling at the ICE agents, but I did not see him attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind," the witness wrote. "Suddenly, an ICE agent shoved him to the ground. My view of the altercation was partially obstructed, but after a few second, I saw at least four ICE agents point guns at the man. I then saw the agents shoot the man at least six or seven times."
Afterwards, the witness went to treat Pretti’s wounds. The witness said agents were not administering first aid.
"I was confused as to why the victim was on his side, because that is not standard practice," the pediatrician wrote. "Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds."