ICE, Gun Laws and Accountability: Inside The Alex Pretti Shooting
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents has ignited nationwide outrage, raised sharp questions about federal use of force, and reopened America’s fraught debate over guns and immigration enforcement.
Here's all you need to know…
Who was Alex Pretti?
Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center with no criminal record. His parents described him as kind-hearted. Police confirmed he was a lawful gun owner with a Minnesota permit to carry.
What happened during the shooting?
On January 24, 2026, Pretti was filmed intervening after officers pushed a woman to the ground at a busy Minneapolis intersection. Videos show him recording officers before being pepper-sprayed, dragged into the street, and restrained by multiple agents.
How did the shooting unfold?
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During the struggle, one officer removed a handgun from Pretti’s waistband. Roughly one second later, another ICE official fired 10 shots in under five seconds, according to forensic audio analysis cited by ABC News.
How did federal officials respond?
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem alleged Pretti intended to cause “maximum damage,” while Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino suggested he aimed to “massacre officers.” Multiple verified videos contradicted these claims.
What was the immediate legal fallout?
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the destruction of evidence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the federal narrative, and Republican candidate Chris Madel exited the governor’s race, calling ICE operations “an unmitigated disaster”.
How does this connect to Renée Good?
Pretti’s killing was the second fatal shooting by immigration agents in Minneapolis within three weeks. On January 7, 2026, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renée Good, another 37-year-old American citizen.
How many ICE-related shootings have occurred recently?
Since January 20, 2025, at least 28 shootings by immigration agents have been documented, resulting in eight deaths. NBC News reported 12 people shot since September 2025 alone.
What other ICE shootings stand out?
Recent incidents include shootings in Portland, Oregon; Glen Burnie, Maryland; Chicago; and multiple cases involving officers firing into civilian vehicles, according to investigations by The Marshall Project and The Wall Street Journal.
Why has the Second Amendment become central to this case?
The case has scrambled the gun debate. Gun-rights supporters cite Pretti’s firearm as justification, while gun-control advocates argue lawful gun ownership is irrelevant. Legal experts called it shocking to use legality as grounds for lethal force.
How does this compare to Kyle Rittenhouse?
Trump publicly backed Kyle Rittenhouse after the 2020 Wisconsin shootings, despite Rittenhouse being armed at a protest. Critics point to contradictions in how lawful gun ownership is framed across cases.
What is the broader gun violence context?
The Gun Violence Archive recorded 14,655 shooting deaths in 2025, the lowest since 2015. Yet immigration agents alone were involved in at least 28 shootings during the same period.
What do US gun laws say?
Federal law bars undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms. The 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act expanded background checks, while the Trump administration reportedly redirected ATF resources toward immigration enforcement.
What are the political implications?
Trump’s approval on immigration reportedly fell sharply in early 2026. Lawmakers called for restraint, while Representative Robin Kelly introduced articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
(With inputs from yMedia)