in Minneapolis placed on leave
28 January 2026
Democrats demand accountability and action in wake of deadly immigration enforcement published at 06:30.
Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
US reporter
Events in Minnesota continue to dominate the headlines following the deaths of two US citizens this month, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by US immigration enforcement agents.
Two officers involved in the altercation that led to Pretti’s shooting have now been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
“Border tsar” Tom Homan arrived in Minneapolis on Wednesday to run immigration enforcement operations after the departure of Greg Bovino, who was commanding border patrol agents before the death of Pretti. Homan will hold a press conference on Thursday morning.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi also arrived in the city on Wednesday, announcing that 16 people have been arrested and charged with allegedly assaulting federal officers and impeding on federal immigration enforcement.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Minneapolis ordered the government to release all refugees who have been arrested by immigration agents while awaiting their permanent residency documents.
In a strongly-worded ruling, Judge John Tunheim said refugees “are not committing crimes on our streets, nor did they illegally cross the border,” adding that the US had been “a haven of individual liberties.”
“We abandon that ideal when we subject our neighbors to fear and chaos,” he said. He ordered that refugees taken out of Minnesota be returned to the state.
Opposition to the Trump administration’s policies has not been confined to Minnesota. In Texas, clashes erupted between protesters and state and federal officers outside a detention facility where some of those detained in Minnesota had been taken.
Democrats in Congress are demanding immediate reforms to immigration enforcement and for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. They plan to press ahead with impeachment proceedings against Noem if she doesn’t resign or isn’t sacked by Trump.
The fallout from the government’s handling of Good and Pretti’s killings also adds to the possibility of a federal shutdown, as key Democrats have signaled they will not support a new spending package that increases funding for ICE.
We are pausing our coverage here, but our reporting on the situation in Minnesota will continue. https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c78vqp87zqqt?post=asset%3A657ca555-c9f7-43bf-ae3e-f92249a1f199#post
Videos show altercation between Alex Pretti and federal officers 11 days before he was killed
Three newly discovered videos show the Minneapolis ICU nurse being tackled by federal agents in a prior confrontation
Senate Democrats demand DHS funding bill include reforms to โrein in ICEโ
Videos emerged on Wednesday of a previous confrontation between Alex Pretti and federal agents, 11 days before the ICU nurse was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis.
About two minutes of video, published on Wednesday by The News Movement, a digital news outlet, shows an incident on 13 January in Minneapolis in which officers appeared to grab Pretti and bring him to the ground during intense community protests against the federal crackdown in the city.
It is unclear what preceded the events caught on camera, but the footage shows Pretti yelling at agents in an unmarked vehicle and kicking the tail light of the car as they move away. Soon after, a heavily armed agent in tactical gear is seen exiting the car and appears to tackle Pretti to the ground while other officers crowd around.
man in green uniform stands flanked by two other men
Border patrol commander to leave Minneapolis after Alex Pretti shooting
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Pretti appeared to break free from the officers soon after and then stood and remained on the scene as agents left. After Prettiโs coat was pulled off by the officers, the News Movement video shows what appears to be a gun in his waistband. Pretti, who was reported to have a permit to carry a concealed handgun, never touched it during or after the altercation.
A family representative confirmed to the Guardian that it was Pretti in the footage published on Wednesday.
Steve Schleicher, an attorney representing Prettiโs family, said in a statement, โA week before Alex was gunned down in the streetโdespite posing no threat to anyoneโhe was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents. Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alexโs killing.โ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/29/alex-pretti-shooting-11-days-before-federal-officers-clash?CMP=share_btn_url
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