The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, the US deputy attorney general announced. Todd Blanche described the move as a standard procedure by the FBI in cases with serious circumstances like Pretti's shooting. The investigation will be led by the FBI with support from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, following a preliminary report indicating that two federal agents fired their weapons during a confrontation with Pretti.

This shooting occurred just weeks after another incident involving federal agents in the same city, causing a public outcry and fresh protests in Minneapolis. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and US citizen, had previously participated in demonstrations after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good in early January. Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have since called for federal agents to be withdrawn from the region entirely.

The fallout from these events has intensified scrutiny on federal immigration enforcement practices, leading to calls for re-evaluation of policies and actions taken by federal agents in local communities. As the investigation unfolds, the DOJ aims to uncover all factors surrounding the incident to ensure accountability and transparency.