Parents Speak Out After ICU Nurse Killed by Federal Agents in Minneapolis

Alex Pretti's parents say there was 'no reason' their son should have died during immigration crackdown.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The parents of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last month, are speaking out in their first sit-down interview. Michael and Susan Pretti reflected on their son's life and legacy, saying 'there was no reason he should have died that day' when he tried to assist a woman shoved to the ground by a federal agent during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the state.

Why it matters

Alex Pretti's killing sparked nationwide outrage, with a Quinnipiac University poll finding that 6 in 10 U.S. voters believed the agents were 'not justified' in using lethal force. Democratic lawmakers also said they would not support funding for the Department of Homeland Security following Pretti's death and that of another person killed by immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.

The details

In the video, Pretti is seen filming the federal agents and attempting to help up the woman after a Customs and Border Protection agent pushed her to the ground. The agents then surrounded Pretti, disarmed him and fired multiple shots, killing him. Pretti's parents condemned the administration's characterization of their son as a 'domestic terrorist', calling the claims 'sickening lies'.

  • On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
  • In early January 2026, Renee Good, a mother, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

The players

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis while trying to assist a woman shoved to the ground.

Michael Pretti

The father of Alex Pretti.

Susan Pretti

The mother of Alex Pretti.

Renee Good

A mother who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis in early January 2026.

Kash Patel

The FBI director leading the investigation into Alex Pretti's death.

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What they’re saying

“He's my first born. He's the one that made me a mother. There was no reason he should have died that day.”

— Susan Pretti, Mother of Alex Pretti (The New York Times)

“His last act on this earth, his last thought, was to help this woman. It's who he was, every day.”

— Michael Pretti, Father of Alex Pretti (The New York Times)

“You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director (The Hill)

“You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns.”

— Donald Trump (The Hill)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration have defended the involved immigration officers, and the FBI investigation into Alex Pretti's death is ongoing.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the growing tensions between law enforcement and the public, particularly around issues of immigration enforcement and the use of lethal force. It raises important questions about the appropriate role of federal agents, the rights of protesters and bystanders, and the need for greater accountability and transparency in these types of confrontations.