After the incident in Minneapolis, unrest has erupted in the city once again.
Less than three weeks after the tragic death of a woman from a shot fired by an immigration officer in Minneapolis, another incident occurred, leading to conflicting statements from officials regarding the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretty. This was reported by the BBC.
Pretty was shot during a confrontation with immigration officials on Saturday morning on the streets of Minneapolis.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, agents opened fire in self-defense after Pretty, allegedly armed with a gun, resisted arrest. However, witnesses, local authorities, and the victim's family refuted this information, claiming that he was holding a phone, not a weapon.
Following the incident, unrest began anew in the city.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy described the event as "incredibly troubling," adding that trust in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security is "at risk." He called for a full joint investigation at both federal and local levels, emphasizing the need to provide the truth to the American people through a post on social media platform X.
The authorities' response was swift. President Donald Trump accused Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of "inciting a riot" and previously threatened to invoke a law that allows for the deployment of military personnel to maintain order. However, he later backed off this threat, although it remains unclear how long this will last.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance referred to the events in Minneapolis as "artificially created chaos," adding that it is a "unique" situation for the city. He also blamed local leaders for failing to cooperate with federal ICE agents.
The shooting occurred on Saturday around 9:05 AM local time, in the area of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol commander, reported that agents were conducting an immigration enforcement operation when Pretty allegedly approached them with a 9mm handgun. He added that Pretty "put up fierce resistance," which led one of the agents to open fire.
Footage taken before the shooting shows Pretty filming the agents with his phone. Whistles and shouts from bystanders can be heard in the background.
The Department of Homeland Security posted photos on social media of a gun that they claim belonged to Pretty, along with information that he did not have identification but had two magazines with ammunition.
As for ICE's authority, it differs from that of local police in the U.S. ICE agents can detain individuals suspected of being in the country illegally; however, they need a warrant from a judge to access private premises. In some cases, they can detain U.S. citizens if they obstruct an arrest or are suspected of being in the country illegally.
The use of force by ICE agents is governed by the Constitution and U.S. laws, as well as internal guidelines.
Alex Pretty was an active supporter of the Democratic Party and participated in protests following the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020, according to his ex-wife.
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