Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have been placed on administrative leave following the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis.
Pretti died on 24 January 2026 near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue during protests against federal immigration operations. Video shows him filming agents, directing traffic, and protecting a woman before being pepper-sprayed, tackled, and shot ten times in five seconds.
A DHS report to Congress notes officers shouting about a gun in the struggle, but footage reveals none in his hand; Pretti held a valid concealed carry permit with no criminal record.
CBP confirmed the suspension on Tuesday per protocol, contradicting Commander Gregory Bovino’s earlier claim they were merely reassigned. The ICE agent who killed Renee Good, another U.S. citizen, on 7 January faces similar leave.
The incident has triggered Minnesota protests, national fury, and bipartisan demands to oust DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Democrats threaten her impeachment; both parties eye DHS funding cuts before the 1 February shutdown.
President Trump pledged to “de-escalate” amid Operation Metro Surge—yielding over 3,000 arrests—but attacked Mayor Jacob Frey over sanctuary policies. Frey told Trump’s border chief Tom Homan, “Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.”
Trump hit back on Truth Social, “Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in Minneapolis, said the Justice Department “arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement.”
“We expect more arrests to come,” she added.
A federal judge ordered detained refugees’ release, ruling they “are not committing crimes on our streets, nor did they illegally cross the border” in America’s “haven of individual liberties.”
Noem initially called Pretti a “domestic terrorism” suspect “brandishing” a gun, claims video disputes.