• Protests erupt in Minneapolis after ICE shootings of local residents.
• Alex Pretti was killed by Border Patrol agents, escalating community tension.
• Governor Tim Walz calls for the removal of federal agents from Minnesota.
• Eyewitness accounts contradict federal claims regarding the circumstances of the shootings.
• Protests spread to several cities, expressing opposition to ICE operations.

Protests have erupted across Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, marking the second deadly incident involving federal immigration enforcement in the city this month. Demonstrators gathered in large numbers, chanting for justice and holding signs denouncing the practices of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Pretti's shooting has intensified scrutiny on federal agents operating in the area, particularly due to the demographic makeup of the local community, which includes a significant number of Somali immigrants, reports CBS News, BBC, and Africa News.

The shooting incident on January 24 saw ICE officials indicate that they acted in self-defense, claiming Pretti approached their officers with a weapon and violently resisted attempts to disarm him. However, eyewitness accounts and video footage reportedly show Pretti was holding a cellphone at the time of the confrontation and not a firearm, raising critical questions about the justification for the shooting. Minnesotans express outrage, with Governor Tim Walz stating, "I’ve seen the videos, from several angles, and it’s sickening," calling for a reassessment of federal presence in the state, according to CBS News, BBC, and Africa News.

Earlier, on January 7, another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was also killed by an ICE officer, drawing widespread condemnation and further fueling community anger towards federal immigration enforcement practices. Following the incidents, protests calling for the removal of ICE agents from Minneapolis have spread to other U.S. cities, with participants expressing solidarity for the victims and opposition to the continuation of aggressive immigration raids, which many argue target immigrant communities unfairly. Demonstrations were noted in major cities including Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, as outlined by BBC and Africa News.

Local and statewide officials have expressed their concerns about federal tactics during these enforcement operations, with law enforcement leaders in Minneapolis indicating that federal agents are obstructing local investigations, further deteriorating collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring community safety. Reports suggest that Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have both faced subpoenas from the U.S. Justice Department over allegations of impeding federal agents, highlighting the intense political conflict stemming from the recent violence and the federal crackdown on immigrant populations, according to CBS News and BBC.