Border Agents Placed on Leave After Fatal Shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have been placed on administrative leave following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis. The decision comes amid escalating protests, widespread public anger, and bipartisan calls for accountability from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The incident, which occurred on Saturday, immediately prompted demonstrations outside the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar as activists demanded answers and justice.

According to a preliminary DHS report submitted to Congress, two federal officers opened fire during what officials described as a struggle with Pretti. Early official accounts alleged that Pretti had brandished a gun, but new details — including video reviewed by BBC Verify — show no visible weapon in his hand, contradicting initial claims made by senior officials. The precise timing and expected duration of the agents’ leave remain unclear, though CBP says such administrative leave is standard protocol while lethal-force incidents are investigated.

Confusion intensified after CBP Commander Gregory Bovino told reporters on Sunday that the agents were still working, albeit in another city. By Tuesday, the agency confirmed that they had been removed from duty. The controversy deepened further when newly surfaced footage, captured 11 days before Pretti’s death, showed an earlier confrontation in which federal agents forcibly restrained him after he kicked a taillight. A gun was visible in his waistband in that earlier video, but Pretti family lawyer Steve Schleicher insisted the footage had no bearing on the circumstances of the fatal shooting, arguing that Pretti “posed no threat” at the time he was killed.

The Minneapolis shooting follows another similar case earlier in the month in which an ICE agent shot and wounded 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good. That agent was also placed on administrative leave, adding to concerns about DHS practices under Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale enforcement initiative launched on 1 December. President Donald Trump has said he intends to “de-escalate” operations in Minneapolis, but tensions have continued to grow.

Local political leaders have clashed sharply with federal officials. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reiterated that the city will not alter its sanctuary policies or assist in federal immigration enforcement, telling Trump’s immigration adviser Tom Homan that Minneapolis “does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.” Trump responded on Truth Social by accusing Frey of violating federal law and warned he was “playing with fire.”

Representative Ilhan Omar, who has also demanded DHS agents withdraw from Minneapolis, said political rhetoric from the president has led to an increase in threats against her. Omar was assaulted at a public event on Tuesday when a man allegedly squirted an unknown substance from a syringe later reported to contain apple cider vinegar. Police have charged the suspect with third-degree assault.

DHS says Operation Metro Surge has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota, including individuals labeled as violent offenders. But the initiative has faced protests, legal challenges, and heightened scrutiny in Democratic-led cities nationwide. On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered DHS to release refugees detained while awaiting permanent residency documentation and to return those removed from Minnesota, calling the arrests unlawful and stressing that these individuals “are not committing crimes on our streets.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem intensified backlash by calling Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and claiming he was “brandishing” a gun — statements now contradicted by video analysis. The DHS report notes that during the struggle an officer shouted that Pretti had a gun, prompting two agents to open fire. Early Trump administration descriptions framed the shooting as defensive.

Amid mounting criticism, lawmakers from both parties are calling for Noem and White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller to be removed. Senior House Democrats have even threatened impeachment proceedings unless Noem resigns or is dismissed. Meanwhile, members of both parties say they are considering withholding DHS funding in upcoming federal spending legislation, adding further uncertainty as the government faces a 1 February shutdown deadline.