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By Hollie Silverman
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President Donald Trump said investigations would move forward following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, as congressional scrutiny and state-federal tensions intensified over who would lead and preserve evidence in the case.
"We're doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I'm going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself," Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
The administration placed Homeland Security Investigations, a unit of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in charge of a use-of-force review while also dispatching border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis and preparing to rotate out certain U.S. Border Patrol leaders, steps that followed widespread backlash and calls for independent oversight, the Associated Press reported.
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Why It Matters
The federal review is focused on use of force, rather than a full criminal inquiry, raising questions about accountability days after Border Patrol agents fatally shot Pretti, an ICU nurse, during an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis.
State officials have sought court orders to preserve evidence, alleging that federal authorities blocked access to the scene.
The White House recalibrated statements about Pretti after widely viewed videos appeared to contradict early characterizations by some officials and bipartisan voices urged a reset of tactics in Minnesota.
Trump initially reacted to the shooting on Truth Social over the weekend, sharing an image of the gun DHS said was removed from Pretti and questioning the safety of the state of Minnesota.
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Trump Reacts to Investigation
Trump commented on the investigation into Pretti's death before boarding Marine One on Tuesday, taking a different tone than he had initially.
"I'm looking at that whole situation," Trump said. "I love everybody. I love all of our people. I love his family. And it's a very sad situation."
Amid criticism of federal tactics, Trump said he aligned with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on next steps after speaking on Monday and announced he had sent Homan to oversee operations in Minneapolis as senior Border Patrol officials prepared to leave the city.
Trump wrote that Walz “was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!” on Truth Social.
At a White House briefing on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would not comment pending the outcome of investigations and said the president wanted to “let the facts and the investigation lead itself.”
The Trump administration described the federal inquiry as a use-of-force review, not a criminal investigation.
In a sworn declaration filed in court, Mark Zito, who leads the Homeland Security Investigations office in St. Paul, Minnesota, said, “H.S.I. is the lead investigatory entity reviewing the use-of-force encounter at issue in this case,” and that HSI agents were “required to preserve all evidence collected,” The New York Times reported.
Minnesota state authorities sought a court order to preserve evidence and accused federal agents of blocking access to the scene, prompting a judge to bar DHS from “destroying or altering evidence." A federal judge approved the order on Sunday.
Who Was Alex Pretti?
Pretti, 37, worked as an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital and died after being shot by federal agents during an enforcement operation on Saturday.
His family has described him as "a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital."
Carley Miller, a woman who said she dated Pretti in college, wrote on Threads: "Alex Pretti was a kind, decent human being who was executed in broad daylight. He was a talented musician and singer, a goofy, loving boyfriend, an intelligent scientist, and he cared deeply about right and wrong."
Border Patrol VS ICE: What Makes the Immigration Agencies Different?
U.S. Border Patrol is a component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and primarily patrols land borders and coastal areas between ports of entry.
ICE, also under DHS, conducts interior enforcement and criminal investigations through its Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations divisions.
HSI, rather than CBP, led the current use-of-force review into Pretti’s death, a step that current and former officials described as unusual for a shooting by officers.
When Was ICE Established?
ICE was established in March 2003 as part of the DHS reorganization following the September 11 attacks, consolidating interior immigration enforcement and investigative functions previously spread across federal agencies.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday about the Alex Pretti investigation: "With that being said, you can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just can't. You can't walk in with guns. You can't do that. But it's just a very unfortunate incident."
Mark Zito, special agent in charge, HSI St. Paul, in a sworn declaration filed in court on Monday: “H.S.I. is the lead investigatory entity reviewing the use-of-force encounter at issue in this case. H.S.I. agents tasked with this investigation are required to preserve all evidence collected, including physical evidence collected by other federal agencies, which are then properly transferred to the custody of H.S.I.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Monday press briefing: “I have not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way. However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.”
Angry Catfish Bicycle & Coffee in Minneapolis said: "Alex Pretti was a customer of ACF. A member of our local cycling community. An integral community member serving as a nurse at our local VA hospital. Murdered while standing up to bullies in his city. Then falsely smeared in the media as an agitator with an agenda. Do not believe the lies. He could be anyone of us standing against evil, but evil cannot get us all if we stand against it!"
**Alex Pretti's parents said in a joint statement: "**The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed."
What Happens Next
House Judiciary Committee Democrats set a February 2 deadline for the Justice Department to turn over records related to the Pretti and Good cases, and multiple congressional committees requested testimony from DHS and immigration agency leaders.
HSI’s use-of-force review and FBI inquiries were ongoing, while Minnesota authorities continued to pursue evidence preservation and access for an independent state investigation. The White House said it would await the results of the investigations before further comment.
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