US protesters begin nationwide strike as DOJ launches Pretti killing probe

The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The FBI will lead the investigation, with support from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division and Homeland Security Investigations. Pretti, an ICU nurse and US citizen, was shot during a scuffle with two officers, weeks after another fatal shooting by federal officers in the same city. These deaths have sparked protests and criticism, prompting calls for the withdrawal of federal agents from the region. Minnesota officials have requested a federal judge halt Operation Metro Surge, a DHS immigration enforcement initiative. The Trump administration has indicated a potential "de-escalation" in Minnesota, contingent on local cooperation.

The Justice Department has launched a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis on Saturday. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the investigation, stating the DOJ will examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The FBI will now lead the federal probe, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with Homeland Security Investigations providing support. Customs and Border Protection, also part of DHS, is conducting its own internal investigation into the shooting. Pretti's family, through their attorney, seeks a fair and impartial investigation into his death.

The US Justice Department has launched a federal civil rights investigation into the January 24th shooting death of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the probe, stating the department will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. While Blanche didn't specify the reason for investigating Pretti's death, he noted that such investigations aren't automatic and require specific circumstances. He contrasted this with the January 7th death of Renee Good, where a similar probe was deemed unwarranted. A lawyer representing Pretti's parents expressed the family's desire for a fair and impartial investigation into their son's death.

A nationwide strike involving "no work, no school, no shopping" began in the United States on Friday, January 30, 2026, organized by activist groups protesting the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. The strike follows the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota this month at the hands of immigration enforcement agents. The Department of Justice announced a civil rights probe into the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti by border patrol agents. However, the DOJ has not yet announced a probe into the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. The protests are in response to an increased presence of immigration agents in Minnesota targeting alleged fraud in the Somali American community, part of a broader deportation drive.