US nurses, outraged by murder of colleague in immigration crackdown, demand abolition of ICE

The largest organization of registered nurses in the United States, National Nurses United (NNU), has called for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, was shot multiple times by ICE agents during an anti-immigration operation on Saturday. 

NNU, representing over 225,000 members, expressed outrage, stating, “The nation’s nurses are horrified that immigration agents have committed cold-blooded murder against a public servant who posed no threat. We demand justice and accountability for his murder.”

The incident marks the third shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis this month, following the deaths of Renee Good and another individual during arrests.

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On January 7, 37-year-old US citizen Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Another ICE agent, on January 14,  shot a Venezuelan national in the leg during arrest.

NNU criticized the Trump administration’s crackdown, declaring that ICE poses a serious public health threat. They emphasized that ICE agents have repeatedly shown violence, stating, “They have kidnapped hardworking people and now murdered a trusted nurse.”

The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses (MNORN) also issued statements expressing sorrow and demanding transparency in the investigation.

We are “deeply disturbed and saddened to learn of the death of Alex Pretti, a registered nurse, in Minneapolis earlier today. We extend our condolences to Alex’s loved ones, colleagues, and the community at large," ANA said in a statement. 

ANA added that it condemned violence and demanded accountability and transparency in investigating and determining the cause of the incident.

"The seriousness of this incident and others demands transparency and accountability. ANA calls for a full, unencumbered investigation, and urges that findings be shared promptly and clearly so Alex’s loved ones and the public have answers,” it emphasized in its statement.

Meanwhile, MNORN expressed heartfelt grief over the loss.

"Today, our nursing community is grieving. We have lost a fellow registered nurse to an act of violence connected to immigration enforcement. Regardless of where each of us stands on the issues surrounding this moment, the loss of a nurse, a caregiver, a colleague, a human being cuts us deeply. This message is not about politics. It is about mourning a life taken too soon and honoring the calling we all share," MNORN stated,

"Please be gentle with yourselves and with one another in the days ahead. Check in on each other. Allow room for sorrow, confusion, and reflection. If you are struggling, please reach out, no one needs or should carry this alone…When one nurse is lost, all of us feel it," MNORN added.

Pretti’s family condemns accusations

Pretti’s family condemned accusations labeling him a "domestic terrorist," asserting he was unarmed during the incident. They described him as a compassionate individual deeply concerned for others.

Pretti’s family said they are "heartbroken but also very angry" over the agent's killing of Alex, a Democratic voter who had taken part in woke protests.

Alex's father, Michael Pretti, told AP that Alex viewed participating in protests as a way to express his care for others. His parents described him as a compassionate person, “deeply concerned about people.”

His parents, who live in Wisconsin, said they had also recently told their son to be careful. "We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically,"  Alex told his father.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the shooting occurred during a targeted operation against an armed individual, asserting that an agent fired in self-defense.

Protests erupted in Minneapolis on Saturday, calling for justice and opposing federal enforcement actions, prompting Governor Tim Walz to activate the Minnesota National Guard for local law enforcement support.

Protesters gathered near the location of the latest shooting, and tensions rose in parts of the city. Federal agents used crowd-control measures, including tear gas and flash bangs, after confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel.

Governor Walz authorized the activation of the Minnesota National Guard to assist local law enforcement at the request of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

Walz said he had communicated with the White House, stressing that the investigation should be led by the state.

"The state has the personnel to keep people safe -- federal agents must not obstruct our ability to do so," Walz said on X.

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