The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, the US deputy attorney general has said.
Todd Blanche stated that he did not wish to 'overstate' the situation, referring to it as 'a standard investigation by the FBI when there are circumstances like what we saw.'
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the FBI would lead the investigation into Pretti's shooting in Minneapolis, with the DOJ's Civil Rights Division participating. His death follows that of Renee Good, who was also shot dead by federal officers in the same city just weeks earlier.
We're looking at everything that would shed light on that day, Blanche told a news conference.
The investigation would involve lawyers from the civil rights division, if necessary. Initially, the investigation was under the jurisdiction of the Homeland Security Investigations branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to CBS News.
Two agents involved in Pretti's shooting have been placed on administrative leave during the inquiry, as confirmed by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Preliminary reports from the DHS indicate that two officers used their weapons during the incident, while earlier narratives claimed that Pretti had brandished a firearm.
Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and US citizen, had recently participated in protests following Renee Good's killing by an ICE agent on January 7.
The deaths have triggered further demonstrations within the state and have led to widespread public outcry, drawing criticism from lawmakers across both political parties.
Local leaders, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have called for the complete withdrawal of federal agents from the capital region.
The state has also requested a federal judge to halt Operation Metro Surge, the DHS initiative for immigration enforcement that commenced on December 1, which involves approximately 3,000 officers.
In response to the ongoing situation, President Trump indicated that his administration would consider a de-escalation of federal operations in Minnesota, while his border official Tom Homan noted they plan to 'draw down' federal forces if cooperation from local officials is achieved.
We are not surrendering our mission at all. We're just doing it smarter, Homan emphasized during a news conference in Minneapolis, although he did not elaborate on the specifics of the proposed de-escalation.
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