The two US Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
Sources within the Department of Homeland Security verified that the agents, whose names were not disclosed, were removed from active field duties and put on paid administrative leave while investigations into the incident continue. They have been provided with mental health support as part of standard procedure and will be reassigned to desk roles until the inquiry is concluded.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and intensive care unit nurse, was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24. The shooting, captured on video, has sparked nationwide protests and raised questions about federal law enforcement tactics.
President Donald Trump has called for a thorough investigation into the shooting, following conflicting statements from Homeland Security officials regarding Pretti’s actions. A preliminary government review found no evidence that Pretti had drawn his legally owned handgun before being shot, contradicting earlier claims.
The decision to place the agents on administrative leave comes amidst growing public outrage over 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 turned Alex Pretti’s death into a focal point in the national discourse on federal immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal agents.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday that 16 protesters had been arrested in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement officers.
In a statement, Bondi said, “I am currently in Minneapolis where federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement officers. We anticipate further arrests. President Trump and the Department of Justice remain steadfast in upholding the law.”
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