Minnesota Immigration Crackdowns Spark Violence and Backlash
28th Jan. 2026
Federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota has intensified tensions. According to an initial DHS report obtained by leading news outlets, it happened after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents. The report indicates that two officers fired their guns during the encounter, which raised a fresh question about the operation and its aftermath.
The incident occurred after Pretti intervened to assist a woman, who was confronted by agents. According to the report, “CBPO was confronted by two female civilians blowing whistles. The CBPO ordered the female civilians to move out of the roadway, and the female civilians did not move. The CBPO pushed them both away, and one of the females ran to a male, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a US citizen. The CBPO attempted to move the woman and Pretti out of the roadway. The woman and Pretti did not move. The CBPO deployed his oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray towards both Pretti and the woman”.
Approximately five seconds after a border patrol agent warned that Pretti had a gun, two officers discharged their firearms. The report does not specify whether the shots hit Pretti, but notes said that the weapon recovered from him was “subsequently cleared and secured” in an agent’s vehicle.
Backlash is Growing Over Federal Immigration Actions
Public anger is mounting as circulated videos show that federal agents are using aggressive tactics, even sometimes in the presence of children. In one video, agents surround a crying woman holding a young girl while detaining her relative. The woman pleads in Spanish: “Sir, why? Why?” Onlookers shouted, “Do not shoot him! Do not shoot him!”
Another clip shows that officers are deploying multiple rounds of teargas near a preschool, and prompting residents to shout, “This is a preschool, you stupid motherfuckers! There are kids here, you fucking idiots!” In a separate video, an agent sitting in his vehicle who is openly threatens a bystander and states, “I will tell you this, brother. You raise your voice; I erase your voice”.
These violent operations have sparked criticism from educators and parents. Particularly, in Columbia Heights, where students and staff reported a widespread fear. Peg Nelson, an elementary teacher, stated that “Students are afraid to come to school. We haven’t seen absenteeism like this since Covid”. Mary Granlund, chair of the school board, added that, “Today, people across Columbia Heights woke up to cars still running, doors open, empty, left in the street … This message is to remind people that this is not over. It’s still happening, and we need your help to bring our kids home and make our families and communities whole again”.
Federal Response and Political Defense Amid Backlash
President Trump has defended the immigration operations. In the meantime, he also promised to oversee the Pretti’s case. “I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself”, he said. Trump also praised Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faces calls for resignation or impeachment. He claimed that, “I think she’s doing a very good job. The border is totally secure”.
Noem has controversially described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and defended the actions of agents involved in similar incidents. This is a similar incident that includes the killing of Renee Good. However, some video evidence shows that Good, who was unarmed, was attempted to avoid an agent before being shot three times.
Despite protests from residents and educators, the administration justifies the operations as targeting “large-scale fraud schemes.” Furthermore, it claims these actions focus on deporting undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activity. Speaking to Fox News, Trump claimed that fraud in Minnesota amounts to $19 billion, and added that, “If they think it’s $19bn, triple it or quadruple it.”
As Minnesota communities continue to grapple with the effects of federal enforcement, concerns about public safety and the impact on children remain central to discussions at both local and national levels. Moreover, demands for accountability over violent actions by immigration agents have emerged as a key focus in ongoing debates.
Web Resources on the Minnesota Immigration Crackdowns
1. TheGuardian.com: Minnesota raids continue as DHS report indicates two agents fired guns at Alex
2. BBC.com: Trump says government will ‘de-escalate’ in Minnesota following Pretti shooting
3. ABCNews.go.com: Trump says DHS Secretary Noem won’t step down
4. AcademicBlock.com: ICE Shooting in Minneapolis Sparks Federal-Local Rift