Two US Border Patrol officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave, according to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. Department of Homeland Security sources stated that the agents, whose identities remain undisclosed, were removed from field duties and put on paid administrative leave while investigations into the shooting continue. They have been provided with mental health support as part of standard procedure and will be assigned desk roles until the inquiry concludes.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and American citizen, was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24. The incident has sparked nationwide protests and raised concerns about federal tactics, especially after video footage suggested Pretti was subdued before being shot.
President Donald Trump has called for a thorough investigation into the shooting, a departure from earlier suggestions by Homeland Security officials that Pretti posed a threat. A preliminary government review found no evidence that Pretti had brandished his legally carried handgun before the shooting, contradicting previous claims.
The decision to place the officers on administrative leave comes amid growing public outcry following Pretti’s death and the recent killing of another anti-ICE protester, Renee Good, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in the same city. The ongoing investigation and protests have made Pretti’s death a focal point in the national discussion on federal immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal agents.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that 16 protesters have been arrested in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement officers. In a statement, she emphasized the commitment of President Trump and the Department of Justice to uphold the law, despite resistance from some individuals.
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