CBP Agents Involved in Alex Pretti Fatal Shooting Placed On Leave/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Two Customs and Border Protection agents involved in the fatal Minnesota shooting of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave under standard protocol. The move follows widespread criticism of immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and conflicting accounts of the incident. The case has intensified protests and calls for accountability at local and national levels.
CBP Agents Placed on Leave Quick Looks
- Two CBP/Border Patrol agents who fired at Alex Pretti are on administrative leave as part of routine procedure.
- The leave contradicts an earlier claim that the agents were still working in other cities.
- Pretti, a 37‑year‑old ICU nurse, was shot and killed during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
- Video and agency reviews show agents fired their weapons, but review details about a weapon in Pretti’s possession remain disputed.
- The shooting has sparked protests and heightened tensions over federal immigration operations in the state.
- Trump has promised to “de‑escalate” the situation while affirming confidence in Department of Homeland Security leadership.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others have faced criticism for early statements about the incident.
- The incident is the second fatality involving federal immigration agents in Minnesota this month.
- Activists are calling for nationwide protest actions in response.
Deep Look: CBP Agents in Minnesota Shooting Placed on Administrative Leave
Federal authorities have placed two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on administrative leave, officials confirmed. The move — described as standard protocol for officers involved in shootings — ends earlier assertions that the agents remained on duty but stationed in other cities following the incident.
Pretti, a 37‑year‑old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents on January 24 during heightened enforcement operations in Minneapolis. His death marked one of two shootings by federal agents in Minnesota in recent weeks, prompting widespread public outcry, protests, and political scrutiny.
Conflicting Accounts and Controversy
Early comments from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, suggested that Pretti posed a significant threat. Those statements included characterizations of him as intending violence. However, those accounts faced sharp criticism as videos and preliminary reviews showed differing circumstances surrounding the encounter.
A preliminary internal review noted that two federal agents fired their weapons during the confrontation. It also stated that there was no evidence that Pretti brandished a firearm, contradicting earlier claims by some officials that he presented an active threat.
President Trump has since altered his public characterization of the incident, stating he does not believe Pretti was acting as an “assassin,” though he continued to criticize aspects of how the situation unfolded. At the same time, he stated efforts would be made to “de‑escalate” tensions in the city.
Administrative Action and Broader Fallout
The decision to place the agents on administrative leave comes amid significant backlash against federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and broader concerns about the conduct and oversight of such operations. As part of an ongoing DHS review, the placement on leave is consistent with established procedures following lethal force incidents, but it marks a notable shift from earlier public statements by Border Patrol leadership.
Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who had defended federal actions publicly, has been reassigned, and Trump’s administration has appointed a senior immigration official to lead efforts in Minneapolis in an apparent attempt to manage community tensions.
The shooting has fueled protests both locally and nationally, with activists and community leaders calling for accountability and broader policy changes in federal immigration enforcement. Demonstrations have included clashes between protesters and law enforcement, reflecting deep public unease over the use of force and immigration policy more generally.
Officials continue to review body camera footage and other evidence as part of ongoing inquiries, and local and state authorities have pressed for transparency and cooperative investigations into the circumstances that led to Pretti’s death.
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