A fatal shooting by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis has reignited urgent legal efforts to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota, as the Trump administration continues to expand aggressive enforcement actions in Democratic-led cities.
The Minneapolis Police Department confirmed that a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti on Saturday, triggering widespread outrage and escalating tensions between federal authorities, local officials, and protesters. Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that investigators believe Pretti was an American citizen and a lawful gun owner, holding a valid right-to-carry permit.
“Our demand today is for those federal agencies operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity and integrity that effective law enforcement demands,” O’Hara said, adding that Minneapolis police were not initially briefed by federal officials on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Legal Action Accelerates After Shooting
The killing has intensified an ongoing legal battle between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration. Lawyers for the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed an urgent motion with U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez, seeking to halt what they describe as “Operation Metro Surge”, warning that continued enforcement could lead to further loss of life.
“We need the Court to act to stop this surge before yet another resident dies,” the filing stated.
Separately, attorneys representing protesters asked a federal appeals court to reinstate limits on ICE’s crowd-control tactics, including the use of pepper spray and other munitions. They argued that Pretti’s death has created an urgent risk of further confrontations, as protests are expected to expand.
Judge Menendez had previously imposed restrictions on ICE tactics, but the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily suspended her ruling at the request of the Trump administration, a move publicly praised by senior Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security officials.
Rising Political and Public Backlash
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on President Donald Trump to immediately withdraw federal immigration enforcement from the city, asking, “How many more Americans need to die before this operation ends?”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed the demand, describing the situation as “sickening” and urging the president to “pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota.” Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) also demanded the removal of ICE from the state.
The Department of Homeland Security, however, defended the operation, stating that Pretti was armed and carrying two magazines at the time of the incident.
A Growing National Flashpoint
The shooting marks the third fatal incident in Minneapolis linked to federal immigration enforcement since December, when thousands of agents were deployed as part of Trump’s expanded deportation agenda. State and city leaders argue the operation resembles a political show of force, rather than routine immigration enforcement, particularly given limited coordination with local authorities.
Federal authorities previously restricted state access to investigations into earlier shootings and subpoenaed Governor Walz over Minnesota’s response to federal enforcement—actions Walz dismissed as “political theater.”
As protests intensify and court battles accelerate, Minneapolis has become a national symbol of resistance to the administration’s immigration strategy, raising urgent questions about federal authority, civil liberties, and the use of force against civilians.
