Minneapolis marches on: Community marks 4 weeks since Border Patrol shooting of Alex Pretti

Protesters gathered in Minneapolis, marking four weeks since Alex Pretti was shot by federal immigration officers.

On Saturday, hundreds of protesters chanted “ICE out” as they marched from Whittier Park. They expressed some optimism over a shift in immigration enforcement since Pretti’s death, but were adamant that protests will continue.

Shannon Born and Finn McAfee, a mother and son, joined the protest to show solidarity.

“For me, this is about Alex and being with this community and marching towards where that happened. Yeah, it’s very emotional,” said Born.

“I just want to be here to support the people that need it, and use our privilege to help them,” said McAfee.

FBI evidence decision

The protest followed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s (BCA) announcement that the FBI will not share evidence related to Pretti’s killing with state investigators. The BCA called the FBI’s decision “concerning and unprecedented.”

“Astonishing. It’s disgusting. This is, yeah, just speechless, actually,” said Born. “It just seems like there is no justice, and things are just getting swept under the rug, and hoping people will just move on and not sharing evidence and all that. And it is, it’s terrifying.”

Wes, a volunteer with MN50501, commented on the situation.

“I mean, it’s not surprising to me… I would love for that to happen, but I have no confidence in that happening. No,” said Wes, asked for his take on the FBI’s unwillingness to share evidence with state investigators.

A “shift” in enforcement

It’s been an eventful few weeks since Pretti’s death, beginning days later with the removal of Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino from his role as the face of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota after inflaming the community with unsubstantiated claims about Pretti.

In the first week of February, White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced the start of an ICE drawdown and the beginning of the end of its Minnesota-based operation. On Friday, U.S. lawmakers from Minnesota said fewer than 500 agents remained, down from 3,000 federal agents at the height of the operation. Homan’s stated goal is to return to the typical footprint of 150 agents.

“I think there was definitely a shift. So while we’re nowhere near claiming victory, you know, we’re feeling a lot better,” said Wes on Saturday.

“If we were seeing activity comparable to September or October, then I would exhale. But again, we’re not interested in pulling back, I don’t think anymore,” he added.

Push for reform

Democrats in Washington, D.C., are pushing for ICE reform, including requiring agents to unmask and identify themselves, and use judicial warrants to enter homes. These requests are at the center of a partial government shutdown, which began a week ago Saturday.

In St. Paul, Mayor Kaohly Her signed an ordinance to bar law enforcement officers from wearing masks that obscure their identity. The ordinance, passed unanimously by the city council, will take effect March 13.

“It’s not the end of the fight right now,” said Morgan Budiandri, a volunteer with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).

“I just want people to remember all the victims who were killed by ICE, to remember Renee Good, to remember Alex Pretti. And I want people to, you know, remember that this is, you know, not the end of our fight despite this drawdown. We still need to show up and care about our neighbors.”

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to federal officials again on Saturday for comment on their decision not to share evidence with state investigators, but has not received a response.

Protestors leading the march on Saturday said they will continue their efforts, at least if/until immigration enforcement agents leave Minnesota entirely. At least two more protests are planned for next week.