Nurses Mourn Colleague Alex Pretti Killed by ICE Agents

Nurses nationwide rally for justice after VA ICU nurse's brutal murder

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:23pm

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Nurses across the country are mourning the death of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was killed by masked federal immigration agents in Minnesota on January 24. Nurses have taken to the streets in protests and vigils, remembering Pretti as a dedicated caregiver who upheld his oath "until the very end." The impact of Pretti's death has reverberated deeply among nurses and healthcare workers, who see themselves reflected in his actions.

Why it matters

Pretti's death has become a rallying cry for nurses, a predominantly female workforce, who feel attacked and undervalued despite their critical role in caring for their communities. The tragedy highlights the strenuous workplace circumstances nurses face, as well as the broader vulnerability of immigrant communities to aggressive federal enforcement tactics.

The details

On January 24, Pretti was gunned down by masked federal immigration agents while trying to assist a patient in Minnesota. Nurses across the country have held protests, vigils, and social media campaigns to honor Pretti's memory and demand justice. They describe him as a dedicated caregiver who upheld his nursing oath "until the very end." Pretti's former patients, including a 71-year-old Air Force veteran, have also spoken about his compassionate bedside manner.

  • On January 24, Pretti was killed by federal agents in Minnesota.
  • On January 28, nurses rallied outside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCI Health in Orange, California to honor Pretti.

The players

Alex Pretti

A VA ICU nurse who was killed by masked federal immigration agents in Minnesota on January 24 while trying to assist a patient.

Roxette Villegas

A fellow ICU nurse who said Pretti died practicing his values of advocating for patients and communities.

Marlene Tucay

A registered nurse at UCI Health who expressed sadness over Pretti being "shot while helping" and "practicing what he loves to do, which is caring for somebody who's hurting."

Theresa Goodfell

A nurse who visited the site of Pretti's killing in Minnesota and said he "upheld that oath until the very end."

Sonny Fouts

A 71-year-old Air Force veteran who was Pretti's patient and remembered his compassionate bedside manner.

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What they’re saying

“It is a core value to advocate for our patients and our communities. What Alex Pretti was going – he was doing the exact same thing. He was using his nursing experience to advocate outside of the hospital.”

— Roxette Villegas, ICU nurse

“And to see him just being shot while helping, and being, you know, practicing what he loves to do, which is caring for somebody who's hurting, is really sad.”

— Marlene Tucay, Registered nurse

“We all say an oath when we graduate from nursing school, and he upheld that oath until the very end.”

— Theresa Goodfell, Nurse

“I walked in, and Sonny's just hooked up to so many machines and needles and tubes, and Alex was his nurse and he just lightened the situation. There are nurses who come in and don't really say anything, and Alex was not like that. I appreciated that I immediately felt comfortable with him. And I felt that Sonny was in good hands.”

— Kimberly, Partner of Sonny Fouts

“I don't like looking at the TV about it. I don't want to read any newspaper stories. I don't use the word 'hero,' but I guess I could say that.”

— Sonny Fouts, Air Force veteran

What’s next

The veteran Sonny Fouts says he has had trouble sleeping and physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches since learning of Pretti's death. The impact of the tragedy continues to reverberate among nurses and patients who knew Pretti.

The takeaway

Pretti's death has become a rallying cry for nurses, who see themselves reflected in his actions as a dedicated caregiver. His murder at the hands of federal agents has devastated the nursing community and highlighted the strenuous circumstances they face, as well as the vulnerability of immigrant communities to aggressive enforcement tactics.