Topline
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers deployed in Minnesota have been ordered to avoid engaging with “agitators”, Reuters reported Wednesday, as new videos emerged showing Alex Pretti’s clash with federal immigration agents 11 days before he was shot and killed by Border Patrol.
Key Facts
Reuters reported that the new internal guidance outlines changes to how the Trump administration’s immigration operations in Minnesota will change after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by federal agents.
An email outlining the guidance reportedly urged officers, “DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” noting that this “serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation.”
The guidance notes that the only communication from officers should be “issuing commands.”
According to the Reuters report, the other change outlined in the internal note calls on ICE agents to only target migrants who have “criminal charges or convictions,” signaling a potential departure from the sweeping raids in the state.
The purported guidance comes at a time when President Donald Trump has sent his border czar, Tom Homan—who reportedly prefers a more targeted focus of deporting people with criminal records—to oversee operations in the state.
Homan is set to address a press conference in Minnesota on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. ET, but it is unclear if he will discuss this reported change in ICE’s approach.
What Else Does The New Ice Internal Memo Say?
“We are moving to targeted enforcement of aliens with a criminal history…This includes arrests, not just convictions. ALL TARGETS MUST HAVE A CRIMINAL NEXUS,” the emailed guidance said. Another major change outlined in the memo is that ICE will lead the federal operation in Minnesota going forward, with Border Patrol agents in a support role. This change coincides with Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino’s reported departure from the state.
What Do The New Alex Pretti Videos Show?
A pair of new videos emerged on Tuesday showing a clash between Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old intensive care nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents on Saturday, and federal immigration agents. The videos, which are from a protest in Minneapolis 11 days before Pretti was shot, show him being tackled to the ground by federal officers after he kicks out the taillight of one of their vehicles. The first video published by the online media outlet The News Movement shows Pretti yelling at a federal agent’s vehicle and appearing to spit into the car. He is then seen kicking out the car’s taillight as it pulls away. The second bystander video, released by the Minnesota Star Tribune and Associated Press, shows Pretti being tackled to the ground by federal agents. As his coat falls off, Pretti appears to slip out of the scuffle and walk away from the officers. The AP notes that a handgun appears to be visible in his waistband during this interaction, but Pretti doesn’t reach for it at any time during the video.
Tangent
Trump’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., shared the News Movement video of Pretti kicking the tail lights of the vehicle on X and mockingly wrote: “Just a peaceful legal observer.” Several right-wing social media figures and conservative commentators have also shared the video and suggested that Pretti was not an innocent bystander, but rather someone who was deliberately seeking confrontation. The president also shared clips of the video on his Truth Social handle, along with posts mocking and attacking Pretti.
Crucial Quote
In a statement shared with CNN, an attorney representing Pretti’s family said: “A week before Alex was gunned down in the street – despite posing no threat to anyone – he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents. Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex’s killing at the hands of ICE on Jan 24.”
Further Reading
ICE officers in Minnesota directed not to interact with ‘agitators’ in new orders (Reuters)
Video: Alex Pretti clashes with federal agents 11 days before killing (Minnesota Star Tribune)
