CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott didn’t mince words when he appeared on Fox’s The Big Weekend Show to analyze the dangerous fallout from yet another ICE‑involved shooting in Minneapolis, warning that the rhetoric from some Minnesota leaders is fueling hostility toward federal officers. Scott’s intervention is a reminder that federal law enforcement can’t do its job if political leaders cheer on obstruction instead of protecting officers and the rule of law.
The shooting occurred on January 24, 2026, when a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti during a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis, marking a second deadly encounter tied to the ongoing enforcement surge. The incident drew immediate national attention as videos and competing narratives flooded social media and the nightly news.
The Department of Homeland Security has been blunt: officials say Pretti approached agents with a 9‑millimeter semi‑automatic handgun and that officers fired in what they described as self‑defense after attempts to disarm him failed. For anyone who believes in the presumption of facts over social media theatrics, the government’s account is a straightforward explanation of a chaotic, violent scene.
At the same time, bystander footage and media analysis present a muddled picture, with some videos appearing to show Pretti holding a cellphone and others capturing a frantic, confusing melee. The existence of multiple angles only underlines the need for calm, sober investigations rather than reflexive political grandstanding that spins half‑truths into outrage.
Washington and state Republicans were quick to defend the agents and point fingers at the local leadership whose rhetoric, they argue, has normalized obstructing federal law enforcement and put officers in harm’s way. Leaders like President Trump and DHS officials publicly criticized Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for comments that many conservatives reasonably say amount to encouragement for confrontation.
Meanwhile, Minnesota authorities moved to secure access to the scene and evidence, filing suit and obtaining a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction or alteration of material tied to the shooting — a legal fight that underscores just how serious and consequential these clashes have become. The judge’s order shows that courts take preservation of evidence seriously even as political operatives try to weaponize the narrative.
Make no mistake: this is about more than one tragic death. It’s about the breakdown of civic responsibility in cities that have embraced sanctuary postures and inflammatory anti‑federal rhetoric while demanding the protection federal officers provide. Conservatives understand that supporting law enforcement does not mean ignoring accountability, but it does mean demanding better from politicians who incite chaos and then act shocked when violence follows.
If Americans want safer streets and fewer headlines like this, they should reject the performative politics of blaming the brave men and women who show up to enforce our laws. Hold local leaders accountable, back our federal agents when they act within the law, and refuse to reward the lawlessness that now threatens every community in this country.
