Minneapolis Grapples with Tensions Following Shooting, Judge Blocks Refugee Detentions
Minneapolis is facing heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse, by federal agents on Saturday morning, marking the second such incident this month in the city, according to ABC News. The shooting sparked protests and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
The incident occurred amidst other significant events in the region, including a federal judge temporarily barring the Trump administration from detaining lawful refugees in Minnesota who do not yet have green cards, CBS News reported. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim issued the temporary restraining order following a bid by the administration to reexamine thousands of refugees' cases. The order was brought about by the International Refugee Assistance Project and other organizations, on behalf of refugees who have been detained or fear detention. "Refugees have a legal right to be in the United States, a right to work, a right to live peacefully and importantly, a right not to be subjected to the terror of being arrested and detained without warrants or cause in their homes or on their way to religious services or to buy groceries," Judge Tunheim wrote, according to CBS News.
Adding to the complexities, a video surfaced showing Pretti in a confrontation with federal immigration officers 11 days before his death. The video, recorded on Jan. 13 and posted by The News Movement, shows Pretti confronting agents along with other protesters on a Minneapolis street. A Pretti family representative confirmed the incident to CBS News, stating that he sustained injuries but did not receive medical care. The video, verified by CBS News partner BBC News, shows Pretti kicking and damaging the taillight of a government SUV.
The recent shooting of Pretti follows the fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, a mother, on Jan. 7, according to ABC News.
In other news, the FBI executed a search warrant Wednesday at an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia, seeking ballots related to the 2020 presidential election, CBS News reported. Fulton County confirmed the search, stating that the FBI "sought a number of records related to 2020 elections." A state senator present at the scene told reporters that the FBI sought hundreds of boxes of ballots. Deputy FBI Director Andrew Bailey and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were both seen outside the elections office, according to CBS News. A news conference with federal officials was initially scheduled then later canceled.
Meanwhile, dozens of people across multiple states have died due to a powerful winter storm that swept through large parts of the country, CBS News reported. As of Wednesday, at least 49 deaths have been confirmed as directly caused by storm conditions or weather-related accidents, with officials in numerous states reporting about 24 additional deaths that appear to be related to the winter weather. Causes of death include hypothermia, car accidents, snowplow accidents, sledding accidents, and sudden cardiac emergencies linked to shoveling snow. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said 10 people had been found dead in the cold there, though not all of their causes of death had been confirmed yet.
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