Protests erupted across major U.S. cities after Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old registered nurse from Minneapolis, was fatally shot by federal agents on January 24, 2026. Demonstrations took place in New York City, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Boston, and Providence, among other cities, as protesters condemned the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and broader federal immigration enforcement practices.
Federal authorities have claimed Pretti approached officers with a handgun, prompting agents to shoot in what they described as self‑defense. However, multiple bystander videos, human rights groups, and eyewitness accounts contradict the federal narrative, showing Pretti holding a phone, being pepper‑sprayed and tackled by officers, and then being shot after he appeared to be disarmed and pinned to the ground. Pretti was a lawful gun owner under Minnesota law, a fact protesters say further complicated the federal narrative. The families of Pretti and Good, as well as civil liberties groups, have accused federal officials of misleading the public about what happened.
The shooting was the second fatal incident involving federal agents in Minneapolis in January, following the death of Renee Good earlier this month. Federal authorities have since opened a civil rights investigation, led by the FBI, into Pretti’s death.
The nationwide protests followed earlier marches in Minneapolis opposing the presence of federal immigration agents in the city. Despite winter temperatures, thousands of people gathered in the streets to demand justice for Pretti and others who have died during encounters with ICE. Protesters chanted slogans calling for accountability and the abolition of ICE. Some demonstrators blocked streets and confronted federal agents, who responded with tear gas, flash bangs, and crowd‑control munitions.
In San Francisco, hundreds of cyclists participated in memorial rides and solidarity events under slogans such as “For All for Alex.” In addition, protesters in Boston and Providence marched in downtown areas, linking Pretti’s death to concerns about federal immigration enforcement.
In Minneapolis, demonstrators returned to the site of the shooting, where they built a memorial of flowers and candles in Pretti’s honor. Many expressed grief and anger, describing the killing as symbolic of problems within U.S. law enforcement and immigration policy. For many protesters, Pretti’s death has become a rallying point in a broader movement questioning the role of accountability and legitimacy of federal immigration enforcement in the United States.
Source：the https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/24/protests-alex-pretti-killing-federal-agents-ice