A border Protection official has made a devastating admission to Congress after Alex Pretti was killed by ICE.
As widely reported, Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by agents while allegedly trying to intervene in an incident involving another woman.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claimed that Pretti had approached officers while armed and "violently resisted" their attempts to disarm him.
However, footage of the incident has raised doubts about the DHS's narrative. The video shows the late nurse holding a cell phone, not a gun, in the moments before his tragic death.
In a statement released shortly after the tragedy, Pretti’s parents described their son as a “kindhearted soul” and fiercely rejected the DHS's version of events, calling it "sickening lies."
“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” they said. “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.”
Details of the Incident and Border Protection's Admission
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official, required by law to report to Congress within 72 hours of a death in CBP custody, confirmed that two officers fired shots during the fatal encounter, The Mirror reported.
The CBP notice obtained by The Associated Press stated that Pretti allegedly resisted the officers' attempts to take him into custody, leading to a struggle.
The notice also claimed that a Border Patrol agent yelled, "He's got a gun!" multiple times during the altercation, prompting the officers to fire their weapons.
Firearm Expert Weighs In
Firearm instructor Rob Doar has weighed in on the controversy. In an interview with CBS Minnesota, he criticized FBI Director Kash Patel’s claims on Fox News regarding the legality of carrying firearms at protests, calling them "not true."
He explained: "If you have a permit to carry, you have every right to carry it anywhere you're lawfully allowed to be. That includes public spaces and that includes protests."
Doar also examined the disturbing footage of Pretti’s death, stating that it was "absolutely clear" that Pretti had been disarmed before the shooting.
He speculated: "I believe that the gunshot came from Alex Pretti's firearms from the agent that was carrying it away. After that first gunshot, there's a brief pause, and then that's when Alex Pretti himself was shot."
Shifts in Policy and Tensions in Minnesota
The political fallout surrounding the shooting has also led to changes in the Trump administration’s stance on immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, initially characterized Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and a threat to law enforcement.
These claims quickly unraveled after footage contradicted the narrative, showing the nurse being shot in the back multiple times after being disarmed.
As public fury mounted, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to distance President Donald Trump from the early statements.
“I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way,” Leavitt said. “However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.”
On January 27, President Trump shifted his position again, revealing that he had spoken with Democratic Governor Tim Walz and described the conversation as “a very good call,” noting that they appeared to be on “the same wavelength.”
The next day, he spoke with Fox News, stating: “We’re going to de-escalate a little bit in Minnesota,” though he was careful to add, “I don’t think this is a pullback," per BBC News.