Quick Read
- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi demanded Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz repeal sanctuary policies and provide federal access to state records, including voter rolls.
- The demands follow the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a federal Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026.
- A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to preserve all evidence related to Pretti’s shooting after Minnesota state officials filed a lawsuit.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated Democrats would block DHS funding in the upcoming appropriations bill, risking a government shutdown.
- Senator Lindsey Graham announced plans for federal legislation to end sanctuary cities nationwide.
MINNEAPOLIS (Azat TV) – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has formally demanded that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz repeal the state’s sanctuary policies and provide federal authorities with broad access to state records, including voter rolls, in the wake of a fatal shooting involving a federal Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis. The January 25 incident, which resulted in the death of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti, has ignited intense protests, a state lawsuit against federal agencies, and a significant political standoff between state and federal officials.
Attorney General’s Sweeping Demands to Minnesota
In a three-page letter sent to Governor Walz, Attorney General Bondi called for an immediate restoration of ‘the rule of law’ and an end to what she described as ‘chaos in Minnesota.’ The letter, obtained by NBC News, specifically requested the repeal of all sanctuary policies across Minnesota, which typically limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration officers. Bondi urged Walz to ensure that all state detention facilities collaborate fully with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and permit federal agents to interview detainees regarding their immigration status.
Beyond immigration policy, Bondi’s demands extended to other state operations. She requested all state records pertaining to Medicaid, food stamps, and other food nutrition programs, citing a need for federal authorities to investigate potential fraud. Additionally, Bondi asked for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to be granted access to state voter rolls to ‘confirm’ compliance with federal election laws, a move that has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates.
The Attorney General also confirmed the arrest of a protester who allegedly bit off a finger of a Homeland Security Investigations officer in Minneapolis earlier in the day. Bondi stated she has directed federal prosecutors to file charges against the suspect, reinforcing the federal government’s assertive stance on the ground.
Fatal Shooting Ignites Protests and Legal Battle
The federal intervention follows the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in south Minneapolis. Officials confirmed Pretti’s death, marking the second time federal officers have killed an individual in the city in less than three weeks. Videos of the incident reportedly show Pretti checking on a woman who was pushed by federal officers, leading to an altercation. While Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials stated the agent fired ‘fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers,’ claiming Pretti had a handgun, Pretti’s family disputes this account. His parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, stated their son was not holding a gun and was attempting to protect the woman while being pepper-sprayed, according to a statement released through the Minnesota DFL.
The incident immediately sparked widespread protests, with dozens of masked federal immigration agents on the scene and authorities deploying gas earlier in the day. Demonstrators have voiced strong opposition to the ongoing ICE activity in the city. In response to the shooting, Minnesota state officials filed a lawsuit in federal court, leading U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud to order the Trump administration to preserve all evidence related to the shooting, including any evidence removed from the scene. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty emphasized her office’s jurisdiction to review the matter for potential criminal conduct by the federal agents involved, stating that the state would suffer ‘irreparable harm’ if evidence were destroyed.
Wider Political Fallout and Calls for De-escalation
The Minneapolis shooting and the subsequent federal actions have reverberated throughout Washington and across the nation. Governor Walz had previously condemned the shooting, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the largest association of police executives, issued a statement urging the White House to de-escalate tensions between federal and local law enforcement. The IACP called for a convening of federal, state, and local leaders to identify a ‘constructive path forward,’ emphasizing the need for policies grounded in proven practice that strengthen accountability and uphold constitutional protections.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., declared that Senate Democrats would not provide the necessary votes to pass the upcoming appropriations bill if the Department of Homeland Security funding bill is included. Schumer cited the ‘appalling’ events in Minnesota and Republicans’ refusal to implement ‘common sense reforms’ in the DHS bill, raising the specter of a partial government shutdown at the end of the month. Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced plans to introduce legislation next week aimed at ending sanctuary city policies nationwide, stating he is working with President Donald Trump and Attorney General Bondi on the initiative.
Remembering Alex Pretti: An ICU Nurse and Advocate
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, described by his parents as a ‘kindhearted soul’ who cared deeply for American veterans. His former colleague, Robert Alver, remembered Pretti’s unfailingly positive attitude and ‘incredible work ethic’ from their time at the University of Minnesota. Mac Randolph, a Minneapolis resident, recounted how Pretti provided compassionate care for his dying father, a U.S. Air Force veteran, during his final hours at a VA facility in Richfield, Minnesota, praising Pretti as ‘just the sweetest person you can imagine.’
Pretti’s ex-wife, Rachel Canoun, told The Associated Press that he was a Democratic voter and had participated in protests following the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. She was not surprised he would protest Trump’s immigration policies, describing him as someone who felt injustice deeply. Pretti, who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011, was licensed to carry a concealed firearm, though Canoun noted he did not carry it around her. The American Nurses Association expressed being ‘deeply disturbed and saddened’ by his death, demanding a transparent investigation, while the American Federation of Government Employees union confirmed Pretti was a member.
The aggressive federal stance, exemplified by Attorney General Bondi’s demands and Senator Graham’s legislative push, signifies a determined effort by the Trump administration to assert federal authority over state and local jurisdictions, particularly on immigration and public order. This direct challenge to state sovereignty, amplified by the contentious circumstances of a fatal federal shooting and the threat of a government shutdown, underscores a deepening constitutional and political crisis regarding the balance of power and the enforcement of federal law.