Republicans Demand Deeper Probe After Border Patrol Kills Alex Pretti
Republicans seek testimony after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti at about 9:05 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2026.
Overview
Republican lawmakers demanded a joint federal and state investigation after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, at about 9:05 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2026, officials confirmed.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino sought testimony from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, saying "my top priority remains keeping Americans safe" and citing Operation Metro Surge.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said agents fired "defensive shots" after Pretti allegedly approached Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and two magazines, an account disputed by Minneapolis leaders and witnesses.
Gov. Tim Walz activated about 1,500 Minnesota National Guard troops and officials say roughly 2,000 federal agents have been deployed under Operation Metro Surge, which produced more than 3,000 arrests in six weeks.
Lawmakers from both chambers called for hearings and investigations, with Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. Bill Cassidy urging a "thorough and impartial investigation" as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leads the Jan. 24 probe with FBI support.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an emerging GOP backlash and accountability test for the Trump administration, emphasizing political consequences and skepticism of federal tactics. They use evaluative terms ('hard-line,' 'fomented a sense of chaos'), prioritize critical Republican voices and polling, and highlight officials' defensive language and calls for investigations to shape the narrative.
Sources (107)
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FAQ
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, intensive care nurse at a VA hospital, with no criminal record, who participated in protests against federal immigration enforcement.
DHS claims Pretti approached Border Patrol officers with a 9mm handgun, leading to defensive shots after mace was used; witnesses and bystander videos show him holding a cellphone, agents wrestling and striking him before firing 10 shots.
Operation Metro Surge is a federal operation deploying about 2,000 agents in Minnesota, resulting in over 3,000 arrests in six weeks amid immigration enforcement, prompting protests and National Guard activation.
Republicans, including House Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino, Rep. Michael McCaul, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, demanded joint federal-state investigations, testimony from ICE, CBP, and USCIS, and hearings for a thorough probe.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the probe with FBI support; lawmakers from both parties called for impartial investigations and hearings.
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