See the video above: Governor Tim Walz addresses the media following the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti on January 25, 2026.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — In a city gripped by tension, Sunday saw federal and state officials delivering contrasting narratives about the recent immigration crackdown affecting Minneapolis and its suburbs. Both sides passionately argued their positions, each claiming a higher moral ground after a federal agent’s involvement in a fatal shooting.

During a press briefing, Governor Tim Walz posed a poignant question to Minnesotans: “Which side do you want to be on?” His address, which you can view at the beginning of this article, drew a stark line between what he described as an overpowering federal presence and the tragic loss of a community member. Walz highlighted the death of Alex Pretti, a nurse at the VA hospital, as a somber symbol of government overreach. Pretti was fatally shot on Saturday in Minneapolis, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage.

Simultaneously, in a federal office located roughly 20 miles away, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino held another press conference. He addressed the public, attributing the unfortunate events to Pretti’s actions, thus shifting the responsibility for the shooting away from federal authorities.