Major update after Trump hinted at change with federal agents following death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
There has been a major update after Donald Trump hinted at a potential change with federal agents following the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti.
The 37-year-old ICU nurse became the second civilian casualty in a matter of weeks in Minneapolis, Minnesota when he was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents last weekend.
Pretti, who cared for US military veterans, was accused of brandishing a weapon at agents and acting in an aggressive manner, with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claiming he wanted to massacre agents and do 'maximum damage'.
Donald Trump later labelled Mr Pretti as a 'gunman' on social media, but video footage quickly challenged this narrative, with a number of witnesses at the scene pointing out that he was carrying a phone in his hand and was protecting two women who were being targeted by the agents, before he was shot himself.
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A forensic expert has also highlighted some of the 'strange' goings on before Pretti's death, which has unsurprisingly sparked even more anti-ICE protests in the US city in recent days.
President Trump's words on Alex Pretti's death and the unrest in Minnesota
Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his claims about Pretti and the handgun that he was carrying, as he declined to comment on whether the federal agents had acted appropriately in shooting him while he was seemingly disarmed on the ground.
However, the president did hint yesterday that immigration officers might soon leave Minnesota, after Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz had urged the officials to leave his state.
Trump said: “At some point we will leave. We’ve done, they’ve done a phenomenal job."
He then added in reference to the welfare fraud scandal ongoing in the state: "We’ll leave a different group of people there for the financial fraud. It’s the biggest fraud anyone has seen. We actually think California is going to be much bigger.”
Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino set to leave Minneapolois
And now, it seems as if there's been a significant update, with numerous reports suggesting that Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino could leave Minneapolis and may even 'retire soon' having been sent back to his old job in California, a DHS official and two other sources told The Atlantic.
Tom Homan, the former ICE chief whom Trump has designated 'border czar' will take charge in Minnesota, with Bovino's sudden demotion perhaps the clearest sign yet that the government are reassessing their approach following huge backlash in the wake of Renée Good and Alex Pretti's deaths.
Alex Pretti's family call out the US government
The family of Mr Pretti have already called out the government for their 'sickening lies' about their son, who they described as a 'kind-hearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends'.
They added: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.
“He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper-sprayed.
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
Bovino was the face of the operation when Pretti was killed and this latest update suggests that, while the review is still ongoing, the government may well rethink their more aggressive tactics.
Despite numerous sources claiming the same, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has strongly denied the claims that Bovino has been relieved of his duties.
“Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties,” she wrote on X in response to the reports, adding that Bovino 'is a key part of the president’s team and a great American'.
ICE in Minnesota: a timeline of events
Dec 2025: Trump sends thousands of ICE agents to Minneapolis
In late December 2025, with reports emerging around January 6 (the five-year anniversary of the Capitol Riots), President Donald Trump sent around 2,000 ICE agents into Minneapolis to crack down on immigration.
This was reportedly due to, more specifically, allegations of fraud aimed at Somalian residents.
Jan 7: ICE agent Jonathan Ross kills Renee Good
On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed mother-of-three Renee Good at the scene of an ICE raid in southern Minnesota. Good’s car was stopped sideways, in what is believed to have been an attempt to block ICE agents from passing.
As Good went to reverse her vehicle away from the agents, Ross shot her at least two times, once in the face. Good died at the scene.
Jan 7: Protests break out in Minneapolis
Following the killing of Renee Good, protests broke out in Minneapolis that same night. Protests are still ongoing at the time of writing (January 19), and tensions remain high in the twin cities.
Jan 12: Minnesota sues the Trump administration
On January 12, the state of Minnesota filed a motion in federal court to sue the Trump administration in an attempt to block the surge of ICE agents. Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison said immigration operations have caused ‘chaos and violence’ for millions of people and disrupted their lives.
Jan 13: ICE drags disabled woman from car
On January 13, on a street in Minnesota City, ICE agents were caught on camera dragging an unknown disabled woman from her car. This happened just two blocks from where Good was shot.
The woman shouted at the time: “I’ve been beat up by police before. I’m disabled, I’m trying to go to the doctor up there, that’s why I couldn’t move. I am an autistic disabled person, I’m trying to go to the doctor.”
The Independent reports that ‘tear gas, flash bang grenades and pepper balls were also fired towards the protesters during the stand-off’.
Jan 14: Venezuelan man shot by ICE
A Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by ICE officers on January 14 during an alleged traffic stop. It’s been reported that during the traffic stop, the officer was attacked by another individual in the car with a ‘snow shovel and broom handle’, which is allegedly why they opened fire on two individuals. The man who was shot has not yet been identified.
Jan 15: Trump threatens insurrection
Trump has not reacted well to the protests and took to Truth Social to threaten Minnesota with insurrection. On January 15, he said: “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,.”
Jan 18: 1,500 US troops on standby for deployment
On January 18, officials confirmed that 1,500 soldiers are on standby for deployment to Minneapolis. The troops are currently in Alaska, and no official word has been given to send them in as of yet.
Minnesota officials have asked protesters to stay ‘peaceful’ and ‘orderly’. This comes after Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis told ICE to ‘get the f*ck out’.
Jan 24: ICU nurse Alex Pretti shot by US Border Patrol
ICU nurse for United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by Border Patrol Agents in Minneapolis in the midst of citywide protests against Trump's immigration crackdown. He was a 37 year old US citizen.
Topics: Donald Trump
James Moorhouse