A shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, involving federal agents has caused strong anger and political problems in Washington. On January 24, 2026, a 37‑year‑old man named Alex Pretti was killed during an immigration enforcement action by U.S. Border Patrol officers. Pretti was a registered ICU nurse and local media and witnesses say he was legally carrying a handgun with a permit. Videos from the scene show him being held down on the ground before shots were fired.
After the shooting, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that agents were on an operation and Pretti came near to them with a weapon before he was shot. The complete details of exact situation are still being reviewed as investigations continue.
The incident got national attention and caused protests in many cities. People are angry and upset about the shooting and asking for answers. Protests and rallies have started, and many people want changes in how federal immigration officers do their work.
The shooting has also affected politics in the U.S. Senate. A major government funding package currently being discussed includes money for the Department of Homeland Security. This package is needed to keep the government running, and it includes about $64.4 billion for DHS. However, many Senate Democrats now say they will block or vote against that funding unless changes are made to immigration officers work and are held responsible for their actions.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators have said they want changes before they will support the DHS funding bill. Chuck Schumer said that the event occurred in Minneapolis was shocking and unacceptable, and that the bill must include rules to stop wrong actions by federal officers. Some Senators also claim that officers are not being properly trained or made responsible for their actions.
This disagreement causes worry that the government may face a partial shutdown at the end of the month if key funding bills are not passed. A shutdown happens when Congress refused for funding, and it can slow down government services and programs. Because Senate rules require a large number of votes to move the bills forward, the opposition from Democrats makes it harder for the DHS bill to pass on time.
Supporters of blocking the funding say this is a way to push for changes in how immigration agents work and to demand stricter rules for federal officers. They believe that without changes, these type of incidents could happen again. Some leaders from the other party, even though they are upset about the shooting, have defended federal agents’ actions and argued that the focus should be on law and order rather than on cutting funding.
The death of Alex Pretti has also got emotional responses from people who knew him. Friends and classmates described him as kind and caring, and his family claimed that the reports about his actions before the shooting were not true.
As Congress works on the funding bill, lawmakers are under pressure from voters and community leaders on both sides. Some people want stricter rules for federal officers, while others say it is important to keep borders secure and support law.