Contradictory Review Fuels Outrage Over Minneapolis Immigration Enforcement Operation
WASHINGTON — A preliminary government review has cast doubt on the White House's initial account of the death of Alex Pretti during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, sparking bipartisan calls for a thorough investigation. The review omits claims that Pretti attacked officers, directly contradicting the administration's original narrative and aligning more closely with accounts from bystanders, according to NPR News.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) assessment, based on body-worn camera footage and agency documentation, has been shared with congressional sources, NPR reported. The incident involving Pretti, along with the earlier killing of Renee Good, has ignited mass protests across Minnesota and fueled criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, Time magazine noted.
Gregory Bovino, the commander-at-large of CBP, has become a visible figure in the controversy, overseeing thousands of detentions and deportations in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis, Time reported. Bovino's role as a public face of the immigration crackdown comes as the agency's enforcement tactics face increasing scrutiny.
The deaths of Good and Pretti have also spurred action within the tech industry. Following Good's death, more than 200 Silicon Valley staffers published a letter urging tech leaders to use their platforms to call for ICE's removal from U.S. cities, Time reported. As of Tuesday, following Pretti's death, the letter had garnered more than 450 signatories, including employees from Google, Amazon, and TikTok. "Today we're calling on our CEOs to pick up the phone," the letter stated, according to Time.
The increased scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics comes amid broader concerns about government overreach. The situation is further complicated by China's internal political landscape, where leader Xi Jinping has been systematically purging senior military leaders, according to Vox.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment