House and Senate POCI Caucus Demand Accountability in the Killing of Alex Pretti
A beloved son, gifted healer, and good neighbor
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Saturday, January 24, a Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) Agent shot and killed 37-year-old, Alex Jeffery Pretti. He was a beloved son and community member who worked for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System as an ICU nurse. Alex Pretti was killed less than three weeks after an ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, fatally shot Renee Nicole Macklin Good.
The House and Senate People of Color and Indigenous Caucus has issued the following statement:
“Within hours of the killing of Alex Pretti, Kristi Noem and Greg Bovino conspired to deceive the American people regarding the disturbing circumstances of the shooting, spewing lies and baselessly labeling Alex a ‘domestic terrorist’ to assassinate his character. This is a reprehensible abuse of power. Alex Pretti took care of our veterans and was remembered as a compassionate, thoughtful healer who cared for some of our most vulnerable veterans with the utmost dignity. The suffering Trump officials have inflicted upon a grieving family—following such a heinous, state-sanctioned attack—is unconscionable. Noem and Bovino’s immeasurable failure in leadership and betrayal of the public trust are disqualifying; the only acceptable form of accountability is for them to immediately resign or be removed. We firmly advocate for all Minnesota congressional representatives to vote in favor of Representative Robin Kelly’s House Resolution 996 to impeach Kristi Noem.”
“We demand the arrest of Jonathan Ross and the CBP agent that killed Alex Pretti. Between the lawlessness of federal agents emboldened by false claims of impunity and the Trump administration’s campaign of retribution and violence against Minnesotans, these appear to be calculated acts of aggression. We will not stand idly by while Republicans incite reckless agents to trample on our constitutional freedoms. We urge members of Congress: do not pass any funding bill that provides ICE with another dollar.
“In a time when solidarity, truth, and accountability are of utmost importance for public trust, we call on Speaker Lisa Demuth, Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, and Minnesota’s congressional Republicans to condemn the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and demand a thorough independent investigation led by the BCA. We urge our GOP colleagues to join our collective demand that the Trump administration withdraw ICE and federal agents from our state. Our communities are grieving. The families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti deserve justice—if Speaker Demuth and Leader Johnson cannot put aside partisan politics to lead for all Minnesotans, they must resign.
“The ICE operation continues to destabilize the local economy in Minnesota. Families are living in terror; workers are afraid to leave their homes, and family incomes are being destabilized. Until ICE and federal agents cease operations within our state, we call on Governor Tim Walz to enact the eviction moratorium and provide funding for emergency rental assistance unanimously supported by the St. Paul and Minneapolis City Councils. As elected officials, we are morally obligated to ensure our constituents remain in their homes, free from the threat of displacement as they continue to show up on the frontlines daily to protect their neighbors from being brutalized and kidnapped by masked unidentified agents. Delaying decisive action to protect Minnesota renters, many of whom are directly impacted by this ICE operation, is gravely negligent—we trust the Governor will do what’s right.”