MINNESOTA January 25, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance has publicly criticized state and local officials in Minnesota for refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, claiming their stance has led to dangerous incidents, including the doxing and mobbing of off-duty ICE and CBP officers. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vance linked this alleged non-cooperation to broader chaos in Minneapolis, culminating in a fatal shooting by federal agents on January 24 that has sparked widespread protests.
Vance described an incident where off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers were reportedly doxed while heading to dinner, leading to a mob surrounding their restaurant. According to Vance, the officers were locked inside, and local police declined to respond, forcing fellow federal agents to intervene.
He portrayed this as emblematic of the fallout from local resistance to immigration enforcement, stating, “They have created the chaos so they can have moments like yesterday, where someone tragically dies and politicians get to grandstand about the evils of enforcing the border.”
The “tragic death” Vance referenced appears to be the January 24 shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis, about a mile from where another citizen, Renee Macklin Good, was fatally shot by an ICE agent two weeks earlier. Pretti, described in some reports as a nurse and legally armed with a holstered weapon, was killed during an attempt by federal agents to detain him. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially claimed Pretti approached officers with a pistol, but videos and eyewitness accounts have refuted this, showing him on his knees with shots to the back and chest.
This marks the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, escalating tensions in a city already strained by protests against increased immigration enforcement under the Trump-Vance administration. Protests have turned chaotic, with reports of a demonstrator biting off an ICE agent’s finger and riots spilling over to Portland, where Antifa activists targeted an ICE facility. Federal agents have used chemical irritants to disperse crowds, while gun rights groups have challenged the shootings, emphasizing Pretti’s holstered firearm and calling for accountability.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has demanded the withdrawal of what he called “untrained” federal immigration agents from the state, urging President Donald Trump to intervene. Democratic leaders have echoed calls for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation following the incidents. Meanwhile, supporters of the administration, including Vance, argue that local non-cooperation has forced federal agents into precarious situations. Vance called for an end to the “madness,” suggesting cooperation as the clear solution.
Critics of Vance’s statement, including some X users and local commentators, have accused him of amplifying unverified anecdotes to justify escalation, drawing parallels to past claims like the debunked Springfield pet-eating rumors. One response highlighted that local law enforcement, including the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), were denied access to scenes, contradicting Vance’s narrative of refusal.
ICE and CBP leaders have addressed the shootings, with Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino defending the actions as necessary amid rising threats. Legal experts are debating whether the agents can face prosecution, given federal protections, though Reuters notes potential paths for accountability under certain conditions.
The incidents have renewed national debates on immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies, and the role of federal agents in urban areas. As protests continue, authorities have urged calm while investigations proceed. Life News Agency will monitor developments in this ongoing story.
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