Republican lawmakers are divided over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.
The incident occurred during protests against federal immigration enforcement operations in the city. Video footage that went viral on social media shows the altercation where Pretti gets between a Border Patrol officer and a woman whom the officer had pushed to the ground.
About six officers tackle Pretti to the pavement, attempting to subdue him. The footage appears to show one of the officers taking Pretti’s firearm out of his waistband and walking away with it. One of the officers yells “gun” shortly before the officers shot Pretti at least ten times.
ICE and CBP are women abusers. This is what made Alex Pretti respond. ICE goons push a woman who poses NO THREAT TO THEM down to the pavement because she is filming them. These are the thugs who beat their wives and girlfriends, now bringing it onto the streets.
— Prof Zenkus (@anthonyzenkus) January 26, 2026
Abolish ICE. pic.twitter.com/b0fVsUr22J
The shooting came weeks after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
Some Republican Congress members defended the shooting. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on social media, saying, “we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country.”
Thank God for the patriots of @ICEgov — we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 24, 2026
Shame on the leadership of Minnesota — and the lunatics in the street.
ICE > MN
Republican Rep. Randy Fine (FL-6) called Pretti an “armed seditionist” and said “the insurrectionist was put down. Well done.”
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Pretti possessed a valid concealed carry permit and had no criminal record.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “there’s nothing wrong with anybody lawfully carrying firearms,” but insisted that the shooting was “an incredibly split-second decision that had to be made by ICE officers,” ABC News reported.
However, a growing number of Republican lawmakers have spoken out against the shooting and demanded an investigation intot he matter. “Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence,” Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-4) wrote in a post on X. “It’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right, and if you don’t understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government.”
Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right.https://t.co/xZ07oXtoIS pic.twitter.com/eCafFEfa6r
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 25, 2026
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) argued, “ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties” and “carrying a firearm does not justify federal agents killing an American—especially, as video footage appears to show, after the victim had been disarmed.”
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called the shooting “at worst, deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens, in the murder of Americans,” The Hill reported.
The shooting came at a time when threats and violence against ICE and Border Patrol agents has risen. DHS reports an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against ICE agents and 1,300 percent increase in assaults, according to Rep. Mike Simpson’s office. Colorado Public Radio conducted an investigation finding that the increase in assaults was at 25 percent.
Public opinion polling reveals that a majority of Americans believe the shooting was not justified. A YouGov poll found that 48 percent of respondents believe the officers were in the wrong while only 20 percent believed they were justified.
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