Civil Rights Investigation Initiated Following Shooting of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti

Mon Feb 02 2026 19:08:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Department of Justice has launched a civil rights inquiry into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, marking the second such incident in Minneapolis within weeks.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by federal immigration officers, prompting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to open a civil rights investigation. The FBI will lead this inquiry, examining circumstances surrounding the incident and previous enforcement actions in the Minneapolis area. This follows outrage after Pretti's death and a historical context of protests against immigration policies in the region.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, as confirmed by the US deputy attorney general. Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, emphasized that this move is a routine step taken by the FBI under similar circumstances.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that the FBI would oversee the investigation, supported by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. Pretti's death follows closely on the heels of another incident where Renee Good was shot by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this month.

We're looking at everything that would shed light on that day, Blanche remarked during a press conference. He also stated that the investigation would include legal assistance from civil rights attorneys as required.

Initial inquiries were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, a component of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Two agents involved in Pretti's shooting are currently on administrative leave as the investigation unfolds, according to a report from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

According to preliminary reports submitted to Congress, Pretti was shot by two officers during a confrontation, although official accounts at the time suggested he had brandished a firearm. The 37-year-old nurse, who was also a US citizen, had participated in protests against the actions of federal agents following the death of Renee Good.

This sequence of events has ignited further protests and prompted widespread criticism from legislators across the political spectrum. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have called for a complete withdrawal of federal agents from the city, while moves to halt Operation Metro Surge—a DHS initiative involving thousands of officers—are underway.

Federal authorities, including President Trump and his border chief Tom Homan, have indicated a willingness to de-escalate federal operations in Minnesota, conditional on collaboration with local officials. Homan stated, We are not surrendering our mission at all. We're just doing it smarter, as the administration evaluates the ongoing situation.