Months after the ICE shootings in Minnesota, a federal probe remains elusive

Key Points:

• Federal investigations into three shootings by ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis remain unresolved months later, with the DOJ leading the probe into the killing of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, while DHS conducts internal investigations for the other cases.
• Minnesota state and Hennepin County officials accuse the federal government of withholding evidence and obstructing state investigations, including blocking access to crime scenes and key materials like Pretti’s cell phone and Good’s car.
• Legal experts highlight the unusual nature of the federal response, noting that joint state-federal investigations are typical when federal officers kill someone, but here federal authorities appear to be preventing state inquiries.
• Federal narratives about the shootings, such as claims that victims attacked agents or posed threats, have been challenged by video evidence and local officials, with some officers implicated in making untruthful statements and placed on administrative leave.
• Despite calls for transparency and accountability, DHS has not confirmed whether any officers involved have faced discipline, while Minnesota authorities consider pursuing state investigations independent of federal cooperation.