Politics

Officials in President Donald Trump’s administration defended the shooting death of an American citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis on Sunday. This defense came despite videos from bystanders that contradicted their claims, as tensions rose between local police and federal agents. On Saturday, residents braved the cold and snow to visit a makeshift memorial of flowers and candles for Alex Pretti, who was shot. Administration officials claimed Pretti attacked the officers, which forced them to shoot in self-defense. However, this statement contradicted video evidence. Pretti is the second American to be killed by federal immigration officers this month in Minneapolis, where Trump has sent thousands of armed agents as part of a large deportation effort. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, again urged Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, which is seeking a federal court order to stop what it describes as unlawful actions by the Trump administration. Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol official, stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the victims were the Border Patrol agents. This official stance, supported by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other administration members, sparked outrage among local Democratic leaders and law enforcement, as well as Democrats in Congress. They highlighted videos showing that Pretti only had a cellphone in his hands before agents tackled him and shot him at close range. In recent weeks, federal agents have faced numerous protests from angry residents in the city’s icy streets, with some blowing whistles. On Sunday, thousands of people again took to the streets of Minneapolis to demonstrate against the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, chanting and holding signs that read: “ICE OUT!” Verified videos of the shooting show that Pretti, 37, was holding a phone and not a weapon while trying to assist other protesters who had been pushed to the ground by agents.