Governor Kathy Hochul has called for the resignation of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following a fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident resulted in the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse.
During her remarks, Hochul described the events leading up to Pretti’s death: “Yesterday in Minneapolis, federal immigration agents killed another American citizen in broad daylight. His name was Alex Pretti. He was 37 years old. He was an ICU nurse, someone whose job was saving lives. Video shows him doing something he was trained to do — to help people.”
She continued by detailing what occurred: “He was trying to reach over and help a woman in need when she was thrown to the ground by federal agents. And within seconds, federal agents threw him to the ground and fired a shot, not one, but a barrage of bullets into his body on a public sidewalk in America.”
Hochul challenged official accounts from federal authorities regarding the justification for the shooting: “The federal government claims the killing was justified. This nurse with nothing more than his cell phone in his hand, that he was trying to kill them — that’s their story. But anyone who’s seen this horrific video, multiple videos, knows that this is a shameless, boldface lie. This is not a threat that needed to be neutralized. It was a civilian exercising the free right to protest.”
She linked this event to broader concerns about law enforcement actions: “And this is a continuation of a deadly pattern, a pattern of violence. It is well known that earlier this month, federal agents also shot a mother of three in the face when she just extended a greeting to him. Two American families destroyed; confidence in federal law enforcement shattered.”
Hochul also referenced recent reports involving children detained or apprehended by ICE officers: “At the same time, ICE agents are arresting children — a 5-year-old returning from preschool — using them as bait. A 2-year-old taken on the way home from a grocery store with her dad. Now we have children caught up in armed engagement, scooped off the street by masked men while our federal leaders feed the false narratives instead of taking responsibility.”
The governor expressed concern about transparency and accountability: “When federal agents use lethal force against civilians and then prevent state authorities from fully investigating, it violates the basic principles of a democracy. What it does is makes everyone feel unsafe — everyone.” She added that over 13 months hundreds of U.S citizens have been detained by ICE and dozens have died while in custody.
Hochul criticized Secretary Noem’s leadership at DHS: “Now, Donald Trump’s handpicked leader of the Department of Homeland Security has proven to be unable and unwilling to follow the law to stop these killings. Kristi Noem has referred to these peaceful protestors as ‘domestic terrorists’ and lied about the shooting victims being the aggressors. She told law enforcement officers to put on masks and military fatigues to basically treat the American public as the enemy.”
She concluded her remarks with calls for accountability at all levels: “She has shown a profound disregard for human life and created a culture where people feel unrestrained in how they’re handling encounters with the people in this country. Kristi Noem has forfeited her right to lead, and I’m calling on her to resign as Secretary of Homeland Security or Donald Trump to do the right thing and just fire her. And if not, she must be removed or impeached. And Gregory Bovino — who has helped lead, and defend and escalate these operations — should also be fired.
It’s a shame I have to say this in America, but no one is above the law. No one, not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not the President of the United States. And make no mistake when these people who have abused power entrusted them by their offices are finally out of power states including New York will hold them accountable.
I’ll have more report on further actions State New York will be taking upcoming days.”