Nine months after federal immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, his parents are escalating their fight for answers, accusing the Department of Justice of stonewalling and of smearing their son to deflect scrutiny. At a press conference yesterday, Susan Pretti, Alex's mother, said the government "went on TV and lied about Alex" and attempted to "slander his memory to cover up their crime." She demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
Michael Pretti, Alex's father, echoed her frustration, saying, "We know exactly what our eyes saw, Alex was murdered and he should be here today with us." He noted that no federal official contacted the family on the day of the shooting, nor in the 275 days since. "We have not heard anything from the federal government," he said.
The family's outcry comes as Minnesota officials report that federal authorities have halted evidence sharing in investigations into Pretti's death and the separate January killing of Renee Good. Court filings, as reported by Spectrum News, indicate that after an initial transfer of body-camera footage and interview records in July, the flow of materials stopped. Prosecutors were told in September that sharing would be paused indefinitely due to "challenges with D.C." The Justice Department now argues it has discretion to withhold such information.
The case drew national attention after then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly alleged, within hours of the shooting, that Pretti had approached Border Patrol agents with a gun and "violently resisted" attempts to disarm him. Greg Bovino, then a Border Patrol commander, went further, accusing Pretti of trying to "massacre law enforcement." Both officials have since been removed from their positions—Noem was fired, Bovino demoted—but the Pretti family says they have received no apologies for those statements.
Beyond the individual case, the administration's immigration enforcement tactics are under renewed scrutiny. A ProPublica investigation published this month documented 506 instances of U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents under the Trump administration. More than 100 were held after agents questioned their citizenship, with people of color disproportionately affected. At least 70 children and teenagers were detained, some handcuffed. Of more than 300 citizens accused of obstructing agents, fewer than half faced federal charges, and many cases were dropped or dismissed.
The investigation also found that 63 citizens were detained while recording events, 36 were held for at least a day without access to family or counsel, and roughly a dozen U.S. citizens—mostly children—were actually deported. These findings raise serious questions about whether immigration enforcement is respecting constitutional rights.
Public opinion appears to be turning against the administration's approach. A Pew Research Center survey conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 found that 56% of adults view ICE unfavorably, up from 49% a year earlier. A Fox News poll showed 53% of registered voters believe immigration enforcement has gone too far.
The administration has an obligation to investigate fatal shootings transparently and answer legitimate questions. The families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good deserve answers, and the American public deserves accountability when federal power overreaches. As the courts continue to check executive actions, the demand for justice in these cases remains loud and unresolved.
