The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, the US deputy attorney general has said.
Todd Blanche stated that he did not want to overstate the move, referring to it as a standard investigation by the FBI when there are circumstances like what we saw.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that the FBI would lead the investigation into Pretti's shooting in Minneapolis with support from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. His death followed closely after Renee Good was shot dead by federal officers in the same city.
We're looking at everything that would shed light on that day, Blanche mentioned during a news conference.
He added that the investigation will also involve lawyers from the civil rights division as necessary.
Initially led by the Homeland Security Investigations branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the investigation will now proceed under the DOJ’s supervision.
Two agents involved in Pretti's shooting have been placed on administrative leave during the ongoing investigation, according to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
A preliminary DHS report presented to Congress claimed that two officers fired their weapons at Pretti amid a confrontation. Initial accounts had suggested that Pretti had brandished a weapon.
Pretti was known to have participated in protests following Good's death, which sparked renewed demonstrations and public outcry across the United States.
In response to these incidents, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are advocating for the complete withdrawal of federal agents from the state’s capital region.
The state has formally requested a federal judge to halt Operation Metro Surge, the DHS's immigration enforcement initiative involving approximately 3,000 officers.
In a response to the unrest in Minnesota, President Donald Trump stated that his administration plans to de-escalate a little bit, while emphasizing that their mission remains intact. Border advisor Tom Homan echoed these sentiments, indicating a potential reduction of federal operations, conditional on cooperation from local officials.
