Kneeling Mourner at Alex Pretti Candlelight Vigil, Minneapolis

A vigil is held in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026, for Alex Pretti, who was killed by Border Patrol officers earlier in the day. The memorial, marked by numerous lit candles, reflects the community's grief and response to the incident. The event occurred during "Operation Metro Surge," a period of increased immigration enforcement activity in the region. On January 24, 2026, federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was killed during an encounter connected to large-scale federal immigration enforcement operations taking place across the Twin Cities. Video recorded by bystanders and witnesses at the scene quickly circulated online and contradicted portions of the initial federal account of the shooting, leading to public outrage and demands for the release of additional evidence. Video showed that Pretti was armed and was shot and killed an after he was disarmed. Pretti’s death sparked days of protests, marches, and confrontations with law enforcement in Minneapolis as demonstrators condemned the federal operation and called for accountability. The shooting became a major flashpoint in ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement, federal policing powers, and the use of force during domestic operations. As of this writing, no one has been held responsible for the killing. Find more photos like this on my Operation Metro Surge: Ice in Minneapolis page.