Trump Says Administration Is Reviewing Minneapolis Shooting That Killed ICU Nurse
Washington/Minneapolis — President Donald Trump has confirmed that his administration is conducting a federal review into the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex J. Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The confirmation came as debate intensifies over the circumstances of the killing and the broader role of federal law enforcement in the city.
The incident occurred on January 24, 2026, when federal immigration agents — part of a large operation that included Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol personnel — confronted civilians in south Minneapolis. Authorities initially said that Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm, approached agents with a handgun and resisted efforts to disarm him. However, multiple bystander videos and witness accounts circulated online appear to contradict that narrative, showing Pretti holding only a cellphone moments before he was tackled and shot multiple times while on the ground.
In comments to The Wall Street Journal, Trump said Sunday that his administration was “reviewing everything” about the Minneapolis shooting and would issue a determination after the process is complete. He stopped short of directly stating whether the federal agent’s use of deadly force was justified, instead reiterating concerns about widespread gun violence and saying, “I don’t like any shooting … but I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest with a very powerful, fully loaded gun.”
The president also tied the federal enforcement presence in Minnesota to broader issues, including claims of large-scale welfare fraud in the state, which his administration has used to justify the deployment of hundreds of immigration officers under a campaign known as “Operation Metro Surge.” Trump said federal agents would eventually leave the city, though he gave no clear timeframe.
Pretti, a registered nurse who had worked in intensive care and veteran health care, was the second civilian to be killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks, following the fatal shooting of Renée Good earlier in January. Both deaths have sparked national controversy, protests and calls for accountability, with critics saying the operations amount to heavy-handed enforcement tactics that jeopardize civilian lives.
Minnesota officials have strongly criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the cases. Governor Tim Walz and others have condemned what they call rushed narratives from federal authorities and have demanded greater transparency. Walz argued that the nurse’s reputation was “smeared” even as state investigators sought access to evidence.
Among national figures reacting to the incident, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama called the shooting a “heartbreaking tragedy” and urged a thorough investigation—criticizing federal tactics and calling for respect for fundamental American values.
The conflicting accounts and ongoing review have underscored broader national debates about federal law enforcement authority, immigration policy, the use of force, and the rights of citizens observing or participating in protests. With public pressure rising on both sides of the issue, Trump’s confirmation of a federal review is likely to prolong scrutiny and deepen political divisions as investigations continue.
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