Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Demands Removal of Federal Border Agents After ICU Nurse Killed

In the wake of the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man identified as a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has issued an urgent, public call for President Donald Trump to withdraw thousands of federal immigration agents from the state. The request reflects a significant escalation in tensions between state officials and the federal government over immigration enforcement tactics and public safety.


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Tragedy in Minneapolis: A Nurse Killed

On January 24, 2026, federal immigration officers fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen, during an immigration enforcement operation. Pretti — an ICU nurse who served veterans and community members — died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds during a confrontation with Border Patrol agents, according to local reports.

Federal officials defended the shooting, stating that Pretti was armed and posed a threat to agents. But bystander video circulated widely on social media appears to contradict claims that he drew a weapon or acted aggressively. Instead, footage shows Pretti approaching federal agents with a phone in hand, and not threateningly brandishing a firearm immediately before being shot.

The killing has ignited widespread outrage and triggered protests across Minneapolis, with residents and activists demanding accountability and answers.


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Walz’s Response: “Pull the Agents Out Before They Kill Again”

Governor Tim Walz — a Democrat — has been outspoken in his condemnation of the federal immigration operation. At a news conference, the governor accused the Trump administration of deploying “3,000 untrained agents” in Minnesota and urged the president to remove them immediately “before they kill another person.”

“What’s the plan, Donald Trump? What do we need to do to get these federal agents out of our state?” Walz asked. “If fear, violence and chaos is what you wanted from us, then you clearly underestimated the people of this state and nation.”

Walz described the situation as more than a policy dispute — calling it a moral debate about the role of federal law enforcement, civil liberties, and the protection of citizens. He especially emphasized that Minnesotans should decide whether they stand “with an all-powerful federal government that can kill its citizens off the streets” or with the community’s values of peace and justice.


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National and Local Reactions

Pretti’s death isn’t an isolated event. It comes just weeks after another U.S. citizen, Renee Good, was also fatally shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis during a separate enforcement action. That earlier shooting already sparked protests and legal actions seeking to restrict federal immigration operations in the state.

The killings have drawn reactions from all corners of the political spectrum:

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton publicly condemned the killing and urged Americans to ensure national values of justice and human dignity are upheld.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison criticized federal claims about the shootings and challenged the handling of the investigation.

Some Republican lawmakers have also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the events.

Labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, have called for ICE to leave Minnesota to prevent further harm and protect workers’ rights.


Across Minneapolis, protesters continue to gather daily, calling for justice and the end of controversial federal immigration enforcement operations.


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Federal Government Stance and Trump’s Response

While Governor Walz demands an end to the federal presence, the Trump administration has defended immigration enforcement actions. Officials maintained that agents were acting legally and in self-defense — a characterization that has been widely disputed due to conflicting video evidence.

President Trump posted on Truth Social blaming Democrats for creating “dangerous circumstances” by not cooperating with federal law enforcement, and asserting that local authorities should assist immigration agents in detaining undocumented immigrants.

Additionally, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Walz urging state cooperation with federal immigration laws and demanding access to welfare and voter registration data — a move that further inflamed tensions between state and federal leaders.


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Legal Battles and Continued Debate

Legal developments have already begun to unfold. A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing the Department of Homeland Security from altering or destroying evidence related to Pretti’s killing, underscoring ongoing judicial scrutiny into the incident.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis’ mayor — along with state officials — has questioned the propriety of federal agents restricting state investigators from the scene of the shooting, highlighting disputes over jurisdiction and transparency.


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What’s Next: Tensions, Investigations, and Policy Questions

As Minnesota reels from a second fatal encounter involving federal immigration agents in a single month, the conflict between state authorities and the federal government is likely to shape political and legal debates ahead. Questions about federal overreach, civil liberties, public safety, and immigration policy are now at the forefront of national discourse.

Governor Walz’s call to remove federal agents entirely signals deep frustration with current enforcement tactics and a push for more humane and accountable approaches. How the federal government responds — and whether any systemic reforms arise from these events — remains to be seen.


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