The incidents, including the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, have thrust Trump's approach to immigration into the spotlight and make it a central issue as the United States heads into a crucial election year.
On January 24, 2026, Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
Video footage circulating on social media challenges claims by federal authorities that he posed a threat, showing him acting peacefully before the fatal confrontation.
This was the second reported fatal shooting in Minneapolis this month involving federal immigration officers. Earlier in January, Renée Good, another U.S. citizen, was killed by an ICE agent during a separate operation.
The deaths have sparked widespread outrage, protests, and calls for accountability from community members and political leaders across the country.
In response, a federal judge in Minnesota has issued a temporary order requiring the Department of Homeland Security to preserve all evidence related to the Pretti shooting, and hearings are scheduled to determine further legal actions.
Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have seized the moment to push back against the administration's tactics. They are threatening to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and calling for major reforms of immigration agencies such as ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Some Democratic lawmakers have even framed the situation as evidence of overreach by federal authorities.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are facing pressure to defend Trump's immigration policies while addressing growing concerns about federal tactics and public safety.
Gun rights and civil liberties advocates including some members of Trump's own party have expressed unease after the shooting of a legally armed American citizen, questioning the conduct and oversight of immigration enforcement operations.
The controversy arrives at a sensitive time, with Congress approaching a January 30 deadline to fund the government and avoid a partial shutdown.
The political narrative around these events is likely to shape debates over immigration policy, public safety, and executive authority throughout the election cycle.
Rania Umutoni
