The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed investigators are reviewing body-worn camera footage from federal agents involved in the deadly Border Patrol shooting in Minneapolis, a development that ought to calm the fevered rush to judgment from cable pundits and politicians alike. This is exactly why officers wear bodycams — to cut through the noise and show what actually happened on the ground, instead of letting activist narratives fill in the blanks.
The man who was shot, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, was killed on January 24, 2026, during a federal operation in Minneapolis that involved a Border Patrol Tactical Unit, and videos taken by bystanders have produced sharp disagreements over the sequence of events. While activists and some local leaders have leapt to explosive conclusions, the footage from multiple agents could provide the factual backbone needed to determine whether the use of force was justified.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has been clear that Homeland Security investigators are leading the review, with the FBI supporting and internal reviews underway, even as anchors press her about labels and political spin. Her appearance on national television underscored the department’s position: let the investigators do their jobs and don’t weaponize the tragedy for partisan points.
We should remember this episode did not occur in a vacuum — it followed another high-profile federal shooting earlier this month that set off anti-ICE demonstrations and nationwide unrest, proving that aggressive enforcement draws predictable outrage from the usual suspects. Rather than reflexive condemnation of federal officers doing dangerous work, leaders should be demanding calm, evidence, and support for law enforcement amid orchestrated attempts to turn enforcement into spectacle.
America deserves transparency: release the bodycam footage, preserve the chain of custody, and let an objective process move forward without city halls grandstanding. If local officials are going to sue and post inflammatory sound bites, they should not be surprised when federal agencies respond vigorously to protect communities and officers on the front lines, and the public should stand behind anyone risking their life to keep order until the facts are known.
