Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who worked to save lives at the Minneapolis VA Hospital was shot and killed Saturday — in a very public and shocking manner at the hands of a federal immigration agent. I said a prayer for this man and his family. So that his soul finds comfort and peace, just like his healing hands offered to others while they transitioned in hospice.

As Americans, we have been taught that this is the greatest country in the world because we have laws, protections, and inalienable rights given to us by our creator, not man. “Fundamental rights considered inherent to all individuals, meaning they cannot be surrendered, transferred, or taken away by any government or other entity.” Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We use the term “third world country” to describe foreign lands that do not honor people’s rights to speak freely, to protest freely, to address their government freely and criticize their governments freely. Yet, what our own eyes saw Saturday from multiple viewpoints, was distinctly different than what was described by the federal government. A direct contradiction to the what occurred in front of many witnesses, citizens, and cameras.

America saw its own government, dressed in paramilitary attire, drag a man who was recording and exercising his Constitutional right to free speech, beat him, subdue him, disarm him (also exercising his Second Amendment rights) and shoot and kill him and then repeatedly shoot him multiple times over as his lifeless body remained on the street.

This morning at the VA hospital where #AlexPretti worked as an ICU nurse, they remembered and honored their colleague and friend!

As a medical professional, this one hits different! So heartbreaking 💔
This is not okay!! pic.twitter.com/J0d5kCsDzI

— Justice Matters🇺🇸 (@JusticeMttrs) January 26, 2026

Federal Killing and Lies Should Shock the Conscience of Our Nation

This should shock the conscience of our nation, not just because of the graphic video of the killing, but because our own government also tried to kill the truth. Labeling an American citizen a “domestic terrorist,” when this man didn’t have a criminal record and spent his life and career healing and helping veterans get medical care is the most unpatriotic thing our government can do. It won’t work.

Americans didn’t vote for this. They voted to apprehend criminals, rapist, child molesters, and predators that hurt people — not nurses, mothers, seniors washing cars for a living, farmworkers, or people just wanting to work and provide for their families.

Even in California, the most pro- immigrant state in the nation, locals work with federal authorities to arrest people with violent criminal convictions, pedophiles, and drug cartel associates. There’s 100% agreement on targeting criminals and removing them from our communities, which data shows victimize and target immigrant communities. Dressing up in paramilitary attire and parading down U.S .streets is not public safety or effective strategies and just creates fear and resentment.

I genuinely feel bad for the agents involved in the shooting as well, they might think they’re immune because a temporary politician (or a temporarily appointed employee) told them so, but they’re not. Justice will find a way, it always does, there’s no statue of limitations for killing someone in the state of Minnesota (state charges) and sadly the agents are also pawns in this tragic chapter of our country.

There will be multiple lawsuits that arise from this strategy, millions of dollars being paid to citizens that had their constitutional rights violated (on our dime), prosecutions in the future and, sadly, more lives lost in the near future from a system that was built for optical effects and the cameras/social media to emote fear and anger, rather than fixing a broken immigration system.

Mobilize Now to Save Our Republic

Marching, protesting, carrying signs, posting on social media, being angry and exercising your 1st amendment rights are all great forms of expression, but it pales in comparison to the most powerful form of protest-— people power.

The most powerful form of effective expression is the power of people voting! But it’s not enough for just people to vote themselves; organize, mobilize, use your platforms to persuade those that sit on the sidelines to vote. Participate in phone banks for swing districts and senate races across the country in June and November! Do that, or prepare to see more images like the ones we saw with our own eyes. This test we are enduring will determine the future of our democracy and republic. I know we won’t fail, we never do!

There’s a generational shift occurring right now, a moment in history, where a page is turning for America. We have the pen in our hands to write the next chapter, not with hate or anger but with purpose, optimism on what our nation can be, not just for some, but for all!

About the Author

Luis Chavez serves as the Fresno County Supervisor for District 3. He is the son of immigrant farm workers and a longtime advocate for working families and education reform.

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GV Wire welcomes op-eds on local, state, national, and international issues. Send submissions to bmcewen@gvwire.com.