The fatal shooting of a second U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis has escalated into a national political flashpoint, drawing rare rebukes from former presidents, unsettling Republicans and sharpening Democratic attacks on President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration crackdown in an election year.
Federal officers have now killed two Americans in Minneapolis this month amid clashes tied to a sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge that has sparked weeks of protests and viral footage of heavily armed agents confronting civilians. The latest victim, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, was shot Saturday.
Earlier this month, Renee Good, also 37, was killed when an immigration officer fired into her car.
The shootings have intensified pressure on Congress ahead of a Jan. 30 deadline to fund the government. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that Democrats would oppose any spending bill that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security agencies overseeing ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
“Republicans should join Democrats in overhauling ICE and CBP to protect the public,” Schumer said.
