Officials in President Donald Trump's administration have publicly defended federal immigration officers' actions in the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man over the weekend, even as video evidence and local officials contradict the federal narrative and protests continue to mount.
The incident unfolded late Saturday when Border Patrol agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse and Minneapolis resident, during ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the city. Multiple federal officials have stood by the officers involved, framing the encounter as justified and defensive.
Administration Stands by Agents' Actions
According to a Reuters report, senior officials in the Trump administration defended the shooting on Sunday, emphasizing that the agents believed they were confronted with a threat and acted accordingly, despite conflicting video evidence.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, President Trump said his administration is "reviewing everything" about the Pretti shooting but twice declined to state whether the federal officer involved acted appropriately, keeping the focus on a broader investigation rather than specific judgment at this stage.
Trump also criticized state and local authorities' handling of the situation and blamed Democratic officials for fostering "chaos" that hampered law enforcement operations, according to reporting from U.S. outlets.
Federal Narrative vs. Local Accounts
Administration spokespeople, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, reiterated that officers were confronted by a man with a gun and that the use of force was warranted under the circumstances — a description echoed by other Trump officials.
However, bystander video footage circulating online appears to show Pretti holding a phone, not a firearm, at the moment of the confrontation, leading critics to question the official account.
Political Backlash and Broader Context
The federal defense of the agents has drawn sharp criticism from Minnesota leaders and legal authorities, who argue local investigators were prevented from accessing key evidence at the scene. A federal judge has issued a court order to preserve related materials ahead of further legal challenges.
On the national stage, some Republican lawmakers have called for deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics, a rare break from party unity that underscores the political sensitivity of the issue.
Meanwhile, Democrats have vowed to oppose further funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless reforms are enacted — escalating the possibility of a partial government shutdown later this week.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Protests
Mass protests continued Sunday in Minneapolis and beyond, with demonstrators demanding a full accounting of Pretti's death and the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from the city.
