(Minneapolis) The border police (CBP) agents involved in the shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis have been temporarily suspended from their duties, several American media reported on Wednesday.
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We currently do not know the number of agents affected by this measure, says the New York Timeswhich cites a Department of Homeland Security official.
The city of some 400,000 inhabitants remains in shock over the death of Alex Pretti, 37, killed by border police agents, after that of Renee Good, a mother of the same age, on January 7 under the bullets of the immigration police (ICE).
The “small de-escalation” promised by Donald Trump in Minneapolis seems uncertain on Wednesday after harsh remarks by the American president against his mayor.
And while the Republican administration seemed to want to calm a flammable situation, in town and in political circles in Washington, the president threatened the city councilor of Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Jacob Frey had said the day before on X that he “did not and would not enforce federal immigration laws.”
“Could someone (…) explain to him that this statement constitutes a very serious violation of the law and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE”, launched the head of state on his Truth social platform.
But Jacob Frey hit the nail on the head shortly after when he emphasized on X: “The job of our police is to ensure the safety of citizens, not to enforce federal immigration laws.”
PHOTO TIM EVANS, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis
The situation is now being closely scrutinized by Washington’s traditional allies.
“What I saw is obviously worrying,” declared British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, two days after comments from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who considered the “level of violence” in the United States “worrying.”
“Potential assassin”
On Tuesday, Democratic Representative of Somali origin, Ilhan Omar, was attacked during a public meeting. An individual rushed towards the elected official, brandishing a syringe filled with an unidentified foul-smelling liquid, before being overpowered.
PHOTO OCTAVIO JONES, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
An individual rushed towards Ilhan Omar during a public meeting, brandishing a syringe filled with an unidentified foul-smelling liquid, before being subdued.
Unscathed, this figure of the American left continued his speech, demanding to abolish the immigration police “once and for all” as well as the resignation of the Minister of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.
The left opposes the deployment of federal agents responsible for arresting undocumented immigrants, as promised by Donald Trump. She denounces objectives contrary, according to her, to the principles of American democracy.
The freedom with which federal agents, often masked, act continues to worry. One of them was turned back while trying to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country, an ally of Washington.
And a 34-year-old man was injured after an exchange of fire with CBP agents in Arizona, which borders Mexico, according to local authorities.
The vindictive remarks of the American billionaire contrast with the desire shown the day before to calm things down.
After describing Alex Pretti this weekend as a “potential assassin”, the very radical presidential advisor Stephen Miller said that the authorities were examining “the reasons why the (…) CBP team may not have followed protocol”.
The White House then backpedaled, ensuring that he was referring to “general guidelines” for immigration officials, rather than to the death of Alex Pretti specifically.
Read “Protester shot dead in Minneapolis: the video dissected”
“Paid insurgents”
In fact, videos analyzed by AFP and other media discredit the thesis according to which the nurse, who legally carried a weapon, threatened the police.
Two police officers shot him, five seconds after an officer shouted “he has a gun!” », According to a preliminary report from the Department of Homeland Security transmitted to Congress and revealed by American media.
It is now Tom Homan, presidential envoy, who is leading the anti-migrant operation after the departure of the very martial border police chief, Greg Bovino.
PHOTO SHANNON STAPLETON, REUTERS
Law enforcement officers confront protesters during a demonstration outside the hotel where Greg Bovino, who was removed as commander in chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, is reportedly staying in Maple Grove, Minnesota, January 26, 2026.
“Bovino is very good, but he’s a pretty eccentric guy,” Donald Trump said on Fox News. Before asserting, without evidence, that the demonstrations in Minnesota had been infiltrated by “paid insurgents”.
The president therefore does not intend to change his policy. But local authorities continue the fight. A Minnesota judge must quickly rule on the state attorney general’s request to suspend the anti-immigration operation there.
Justice also blocked the expulsion of Liam Conejo Ramos, 5 years old, and his father of Ecuadorian origin, arrested last week. The photo of the frightened boy, blue hat with rabbit ears on his head, went viral.
