Family of nurse killed by CBP demands answers months after shooting
Relatives of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse killed by Customs and Border Protection agents in January, are demanding a full investigation. They accuse officials of defaming him rather than pursuing justice. The county medical examiner classified his death as a homicide, yet no one has been charged for the killing.
The shooting occurred during a January immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, where witnesses say Pretti was recording agents and assisting a woman who had been pushed down. He held a valid firearm permit, and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide. Two agents were charged for use of force, but not for the killing itself.
Federal officials, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, publicly labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and “assassin,” while President Trump suggested he might be an “insurrectionist.” The Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation, and Minnesota officials recently obtained body camera footage from the federal government, though no charges have been filed.
This case could deepen public distrust of federal immigration enforcement, particularly among communities already wary of CBP and ICE tactics. The family’s prolonged wait for accountability may fuel broader debates about use-of-force transparency and the politicization of official statements. If no charges follow the homicide ruling, it could set a concerning precedent for how civilian deaths during federal operations are handled, affecting both immigrant-rights advocates and civil liberties groups.