MINNEAPOLIS — Tensions between state authorities and the federal government reached a breaking point on Sunday as protests swept across Minneapolis and major US cities following the fatal shooting of a local nurse by federal immigration agents.
Demonstrations continued through freezing conditions a day after 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident, the second deadly shooting by federal agents in the city this month, has sparked a constitutional standoff between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and President Donald Trump.
State vs. Federal Standoff
Governor Walz declared on Sunday that America is at an “inflection point,” renewing his demand for President Trump to withdraw federal immigration agents from the city.
However, the President signaled no immediate intention to retreat. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump suggested he might be willing to withdraw agents “at some point,” stating, “We’ve done, they’ve done a phenomenal job.”
Later, on his Truth Social platform, Trump demanded that Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey “formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws,” characterizing state resistance as “stoking the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence.” He further called for the governor to hand over all undocumented immigrants currently in state prisons for deportation.
Local Law Enforcement Blocked
The rift between law enforcement agencies widened significantly on Sunday. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told the BBC that state officers were physically blocked by federal agents from accessing the scene of the shooting, despite having secured a search warrant.
“All levels of law enforcement in Minnesota have been working with federal law enforcement for several years… the unfolding situation in Minnesota was hampering agencies’ ability to continue such investigations.” — Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Police Chief
Conflicting Accounts of a Fatal Encounter
Investigative details regarding Saturday’s shooting remain sharply contested.
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The Federal Account: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated Pretti was shot because he was “brandishing” a gun and resisting disarmament. The Trump administration has since labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist.”
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The Local Account: Local authorities and eyewitnesses dispute the federal narrative. They assert that Pretti, a registered nurse with no criminal record, was a lawful gun owner who was not brandishing his weapon. Witnesses claim he was holding a phone, not a gun, at the moment he was shot.
Pretti’s family issued a statement condemning the administration’s rhetoric as “reprehensible and disgusting lies.”
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man,” the family wrote, noting that Pretti’s only interactions with the law were minor traffic tickets—a claim supported by court records reviewed by the AP.
National Backlash and Political Fallout
The shooting has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum, including unusual criticism from Republican leaders and gun rights advocacy groups.
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GOP Dissent: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt told CNN that “federal tactics and accountability” are becoming a concern for voters, suggesting the President is “getting bad advice.” Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy called the incident “incredibly disturbing,” warning that the credibility of the Department of Homeland Security is at stake.
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Democratic Response: Democrats have threatened to block a key government financing package if it funds the DHS, raising the specter of another government shutdown.
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Gun Rights Advocates: The National Rifle Association (NRA), typically an ally of the President, joined calls for a full investigation. In a statement, the NRA cautioned against “demonizing law-abiding citizens” before facts are established.
Business Leaders and Civic Unrest
As protests spread to New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco—where demonstrators carried signs reading “Justice for Alex” and “Abolish ICE”—the local business community also voiced concern.
Chief executives from over 60 Minnesota-based corporations, including 3M, Best Buy, Target, and UnitedHealth Group, signed an open letter calling for “immediate de-escalation” and urging officials to work together.
The unrest follows the earlier shooting of Renee Good, another Minneapolis resident killed by an ICE agent earlier this month. The federal crackdown in Minneapolis was reportedly launched in December following fraud convictions involving Somali immigrants, though the recent violence has drawn criticism regarding the scope and tactics of the operation.
