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Federal Agents Linked to Multiple Shootings as Protests Erupt Over Trump Immigration Crackdown
By Otobong Gabriel
The fatal shooting of a man in Minneapolis on Saturday has intensified scrutiny of U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement, as protests grow and the death toll mounts.
The incident marked the fifth shooting involving federal agents during immigration operations this month.
It followed the earlier killing of Minnesota resident Renee Good and came amid reports that at least six immigrants have died in federal immigration detention since the start of 2026 — an unusually high number in such a short period.
Trump’s administration has dramatically expanded immigration enforcement, allocating a historic $170 billion to immigration agencies through September 2029.
Minneapolis has emerged as a focal point of the crackdown, with roughly 3,000 federal agents deployed. The move has drawn fierce opposition from state and local officials, who have described the deployment as an “occupation.”
Despite sub-zero temperatures, thousands of protesters flooded the streets on Friday, demanding the withdrawal of federal agents and condemning what they describe as militarized enforcement tactics.
Trump has defended the operations as necessary to remove dangerous criminals from the United States.
However, immigration advocates and local officials say many of those detained were arrested solely for alleged civil immigration violations — offenses comparable under U.S. law to traffic infractions.
Fatal Shootings in Minnesota
The man killed in Saturday’s Minneapolis incident was identified as Alex Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen, registered nurse, and legally permitted gun owner.
The Department of Homeland Security said a Border Patrol agent fired after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him. Local leaders and eyewitnesses have disputed that account.
Bystander videos verified by Reuters show agents pepper-spraying Pretti and other protesters as he recorded the scene on his phone. No weapon is visible in the footage. After several agents force him to the ground, one officer draws a firearm, and multiple gunshots are heard.
The shooting comes weeks after the death of Renee Good, who was killed when ICE officer Jonathan Ross fired into her vehicle.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Good a “domestic terrorist” shortly after the incident, alleging she attempted to ram the officer with her car — a claim not supported by publicly released evidence. Video footage shows Ross firing as Good’s vehicle was moving away.
As investigations continue, civil rights groups are demanding transparency and accountability, warning that the expanding enforcement campaign is exacting a deadly toll.