Protests have reignited in the city following the incident.
In Minneapolis, there are controversies surrounding the circumstances of Alex Pretty's death, which occurred less than three weeks after an immigration service agent shot a woman in the same city. The BBC reports uncertainty and conflicting statements from officials and federal representatives.
The events unfolded on Saturday morning when 37-year-old Alex Pretty was killed during a confrontation with immigration service agents on one of the city streets.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents opened fire in self-defense, claiming that Pretty was armed with a gun and resisted attempts to disarm him. However, witnesses, local authorities, and Pretty's family assert that he was holding a phone, not a weapon.
After the tragic incident, unrest flared up again in Minneapolis.
Senator Bill Cassidy, representing the Republicans, described the situation as "incredibly alarming" and expressed concern that trust in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is "at risk." In his post on social media platform X, he called for a joint investigation at both the federal and state levels.
Authorities' response was swift. President Donald Trump accused Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of "inciting a riot," threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows for the deployment of military forces to perform law enforcement duties. However, Trump later backed away from this threat, although it is unclear how long this will last.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance referred to the events in Minneapolis as "artificially created chaos," pointing out the "uniqueness" of the situation for the city. He also claimed that local authorities are obstructing cooperation with federal ICE agents.
The incident occurred around 9:05 AM local time at Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol commander, stated that agents were conducting a "targeted" operation to enforce immigration laws when Pretty approached them with a "9mm semi-automatic" pistol. He claims that Pretty "put up fierce resistance," which led to the shooting in self-defense.
Video recordings before the incident show Pretty filming the agents on his phone, while shouts and whistles from passersby can be heard in the background.
The Department of Homeland Security posted a photo on social media of a gun that they claim belonged to Pretty. It was also reported that he had two magazines with ammunition and no identification documents.
As for ICE's authority, it differs from that of local police departments. ICE agents can detain and arrest individuals suspected of being in the country illegally, but they need a warrant from a judge to enter 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.
Pretty was an active supporter of the Democratic Party and participated in protests following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, according to his ex-wife, as reported by AP.
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