United States: Nurse Alex Pretti, 37, Killed by ICE Agents While Holding a Phone

The killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse and volunteer, by U.S. federal immigration enforcement agents has sparked international attention. While authorities initially claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense, multiple videos and eyewitness accounts indicate that the only object in Pretti’s hands was a mobile phone, not a weapon.

Who was Alex Pretti?

Alex Pretti worked as an intensive care nurse, caring for military veterans. Colleagues and relatives describe him as calm, compassionate, and deeply committed to helping others. He was also active in volunteer work. Nothing in his background suggested he posed a threat.

What happened

The incident occurred during a federal ICE operation in Minneapolis, amid heightened tensions around U.S. immigration enforcement. Video footage and witnesses report that Pretti approached federal agents after seeing a woman violently pushed to the ground. He was reportedly recording the scene with his phone or attempting to help, consistent with his profession as a healthcare worker. Moments later, he was fatally shot by federal agents.

A phone portrayed as a weapon

Federal authorities quickly claimed the agents acted in self-defense, arguing that Pretti posed a threat. However, available videos and eyewitness testimonies contradict this narrative. Pretti held only a phone, and no evidence indicates he attempted to attack any agent. Critics argue that invoking self-defense in this case is a constructed narrative to shield agents from accountability.

Local authorities react

Following the incident, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for a reduction or withdrawal of federal immigration agents in the city. He criticized the lack of coordination between federal and local authorities, emphasizing that such deployments created a dangerous and uncontrolled environment. Frey stated that he is working directly with the White House to prevent similar tragedies in the future. His response underscores tensions between local governance and federal law enforcement.

Associations condemn excessive force

Several U.S. organizations quickly denounced the killing. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund called for an independent investigation, describing the self-defense claim as a cover to protect the agents involved. The Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) and the activist group Never Again Action criticized the operation, highlighting that Pretti, an unarmed civilian holding a phone, should never have been portrayed as a threat.

Other groups, including Refugees International and National Nurses United, demanded transparency and accountability, insisting that public safety cannot rely on intimidation or lethal force. Together, these statements add pressure on local and federal authorities to ensure a full and impartial investigation.

An international perspective

For global audiences, the death of Alex Pretti raises fundamental questions: How can a phone be framed as a deadly weapon? How often is self-defense invoked to justify lethal force against unarmed civilians?

Alex Pretti was a nurse and a volunteer. He was unarmed, holding a phone, yet killed during a federal operation. His death has become a powerful symbol of concerns about law enforcement accountability in the United States, drawing attention and criticism well beyond American borders.

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