Minnesota National Guard Mobilizes Following Fatal Border Patrol Shooting of ICU Nurse
Governor Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard late Saturday following the fatal shooting of a local nurse by federal agents, this deployment marks a severe escalation in the dispute between state leaders and the federal government regarding immigration enforcement.
Second Fatal Shooting in Three Weeks Escalates Federal State Standoff
This incident represents the second death attributed to federal agents in Minneapolis since early January, it follows the killing of Renee Nicole Good during a traffic stop three weeks prior. These events stem from a massive federal initiative known as Operation Metro Surge, this campaign involves a significant influx of federal personnel aimed at curbing crime and immigration violations. Tensions have risen steadily as local officials describe the operation as an unwanted invasion, meanwhile, the community struggles with memories of past civil unrest. The atmosphere in the Twin Cities has shifted from local police reform debates to a focused resistance against what state leaders call federal overreach, this dynamic has created a volatile environment where state and federal jurisdictions clash daily.
Witnesses Dispute Federal Narrative Surrounding Death of Alex Pretti
The confrontation occurred Saturday morning when an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, near the intersection of 26th Street West and Nicollet Avenue. While the Department of Homeland Security alleges Pretti approached agents with a handgun and resisted disarmament, bystander video appears to contradict this official account. Witnesses claim Pretti was holding a cellphone while recording the agents before being physically overwhelmed and shot, consequently, Governor Walz has rejected federal oversight and ordered the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to lead the investigation.
Approximately 100 National Guard soldiers have deployed to secure federal buildings and support local police, this move comes as protests intensify near the shooting site. Governor Walz described the federal tactics as an abomination, he noted that Pretti was a lawful gun owner with no criminal record who worked at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. The conflicting reports regarding whether agents removed a holstered weapon from Pretti before firing have fueled public outrage, this uncertainty mirrors the 2021 federal killing of Winston Boogie Smith Jr. which also lacked body camera evidence.
Legal Challenge Targets Operation as Shutdown Risk Looms
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the federal operation, the filing argues that federal tactics violate the Tenth Amendment and infringe on state sovereignty. Local businesses report revenue losses of nearly 80 percent due to the militarized atmosphere, furthermore, congressional leaders have threatened to freeze funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This showdown threatens to trigger a government shutdown if a resolution regarding federal authority within state borders is not reached soon.
With the National Guard now patrolling critical infrastructure, the intersection of local autonomy and federal enforcement power faces a defining legal test, officials warn that the jurisdictional deadlock may prolong the investigation into Pretti's death.
