Minneapolis Protest Turns Deadly; VP Vance Warns of ‘Engineered Chaos’ Amid Immigration Enforcement Unrest

Minneapolis, Saturday: A protest against a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis turned deadly on Saturday when a 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, authorities confirmed.

Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and healthcare worker, was participating in demonstrations against the operation while carrying a licensed handgun. According to law enforcement officials, he attempted to intervene during the enforcement action and resisted arrest, prompting the Border Patrol agent to open fire. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Political Reactions and Rising Tensions

The fatal shooting has intensified political debate over immigration enforcement and public safety in Minneapolis. Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized state and local leadership, describing the unrest as “engineered chaos.”

“The solution is staring everyone in the face. I hope authorities in Minneapolis stop this madness,” Vance said in a statement.

A day earlier, following another fatal shooting involving federal agents, Vance accused local officials of deliberately refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

“This is just a taste of what's happening in Minneapolis because state and local officials refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement,” Vance wrote. “They have created the chaos so they can have moments like yesterday, where someone tragically dies and politicians get to grandstand about the evils of enforcing the border.”

Claims of Non-Cooperation by Local Police

Vance also alleged that Minneapolis police failed to assist federal officers during a separate incident involving off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.

According to Vance, the officers were dining at a restaurant when their identities and location were doxxed online. A crowd subsequently gathered outside the restaurant, trapping the officers inside.

“The officers were locked in the restaurant, and local police refused to respond to their pleas for help, as they've been directed by local authorities,” Vance claimed. “Eventually, their fellow federal agents came to their aid.”

Recounting the incident on social media, Vance called it one of the most alarming stories he heard during a recent visit to Minneapolis, warning that federal immigration officers are increasingly at risk amid escalating unrest.

What Comes Next

Authorities have not yet released further details about the shooting involving Alex Pretti. Federal and local investigations are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the use of force, while political tensions over immigration enforcement and public safety in Minneapolis continue to escalate.