Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called on President Donald Trump to withdraw federal immigration agents from the state following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident during an immigration enforcement operation.
The incident occurred on Saturday, January 24, 2026, when a federal agent shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse and U.S. citizen, in south Minneapolis. Authorities confirmed that Pretti died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
The shooting is the second deadly encounter involving federal officers in Minneapolis this month. On January 7, another federal agent shot and killed Renee Good during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.
Reacting on Sunday, Governor Walz criticised the continued deployment of federal agents in Minnesota and demanded their withdrawal. He said the presence of what he described as “3,000 untrained agents” posed a danger to residents and accused the federal operation of escalating violence in the state.
The killing has intensified protests and renewed public scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis. Community leaders and state officials have raised concerns over the use of force and called for greater accountability.
Walz said Minnesota authorities would handle the investigation into Pretti’s death and insisted on an independent probe led by state investigators.
However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the actions of its personnel, stating that a Border Patrol agent fired “defensive shots” after a man carrying a handgun allegedly approached officers and resisted attempts to disarm him. DHS said the agent involved is an eight-year veteran of the Border Patrol.
President Trump responded on social media, criticising Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. He questioned the absence of local police at the scene and accused state and city leaders of inciting unrest through their rhetoric.
Bystander videos circulating online appear to contradict the federal account of events. Footage shows Pretti standing in the street filming federal agents with his phone before being pepper-sprayed, restrained by multiple officers and struck repeatedly. Several shots were fired while he was on the ground.
Open-source investigation group Bellingcat said available footage suggests a firearm was removed from Pretti before shots were fired, adding that multiple agents appeared to discharge their weapons after Pretti was already motionless.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said investigators believe Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, noting that Minnesota law allows open carry with a valid permit.
In a statement, Pretti’s family described him as kind and dedicated to helping others through his work as a nurse. They rejected claims that he posed a threat, accusing federal authorities of misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident has heightened tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and intensified calls for the withdrawal of armed federal agents from Minneapolis as protests continue across the city.
