Federal Agents' Presence in Minneapolis Sparks Controversy and Protests
Minneapolis, Minnesota, became the center of national attention following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents on January 24, 2026, an event that ignited protests and raised questions about the Trump administration's immigration policies. The incident occurred on Nicollet Avenue, marking the second death of an American citizen in the city at the hands of federal agents in just three weeks, according to Time.
The death of Pretti, an ICU nurse, spurred a growing memorial at the site of the shooting, described by Time as "a mountain of carnations, prayer candles, poems, and notes." One message at the memorial pleaded, "America, do not let their deaths be in vain - We the People." Alex Hand, a caregiver who visited the memorial, told Time that "Alex Pretti stood up for what is right. He stood for all of us." Hand's husband, John Holman, a gallery guard, joined hundreds in the street the day of the shooting.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was alerted to the shooting by Police Chief Brian O'Hara while at his daughter's ballet class. Frey, now in his third term, described his tenure as "marked by an almost unfathomable series of tragedies," according to Time. He rushed to respond to the situation, leaving his daughter without saying goodbye.
In the wake of the controversy, the Trump administration announced it would remove 700 federal immigration agents from Minneapolis, according to Vox. However, Vox reported that "there are few signs of the crackdown letting up."
The increased federal presence and the subsequent shooting of Pretti fueled concerns about the administration's immigration crackdown and its impact on the city.
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