Another flashpoint has emerged in the already explosive debate around immigration enforcement and federal policing in the US.
This time, it’s a newly surfaced video that has dragged the late Alex Pretti back into the spotlight — and prompted sharp commentary from conservative media figure Megyn Kelly.
The footage, released days after Pretti was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, shows a tense encounter between the 37-year-old intensive care nurse and federal officers during an immigration operation.
Megyn Kelly Takes Aim at Alex Pretti
Megyn Kelly wasted no time weighing in after the clip began circulating online.
Sharing the video with her followers on Wednesday night, Kelly accused Pretti of aggressively targeting federal agents, claiming he had been “stalking, harassing and terrorizing” them.
According to Kelly, the footage proves that Pretti was actively provoking confrontations with Border Patrol officers.
She argued that his behavior crossed into criminal territory, writing that “his felonies were on tape” and insisting his actions were reckless and ultimately fatal.
She went further, telling critics of immigration enforcement to “find another poster boy,” framing Pretti not as a victim but as someone who had repeatedly instigated dangerous situations.
What the Video Appears to Show
The video shows Pretti confronting a Ford Expedition SUV filled with federal officers who were reportedly conducting immigration raids.
In the clip, he can be heard yelling insults at the officers and spitting at the vehicle’s window.
As the SUV begins to pull away, Pretti kicks the tail light with visible force, shattering it.
Moments later, one officer exits the vehicle and physically restrains him, pinning him to the ground as bystanders scream.
Other officers then deploy tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd.
After a brief struggle, Pretti is released and allowed to walk away.
He gathers items that fell during the scuffle and leaves the scene.
A firearm is visible in his waistband, similar to what authorities say he was carrying on the day he was killed.
Notably, he was not arrested or charged for damaging federal property following the incident.
DHS Reviews Footage as Investigation Continues
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed it is reviewing the footage as part of its ongoing investigation into Pretti’s death.
Officials have said Pretti suffered a broken rib during an earlier altercation with federal officers, though it remains unclear whether the injury occurred during the incident shown in the video or at another time.
Lawyers for Pretti’s family have acknowledged that he is indeed the person seen in the footage.
Family Lawyers Push Back Hard
Pretti’s legal team has strongly rejected claims that the video justifies what happened days later.
Attorney Steve Schleicher, speaking on behalf of the family, said the clip shows Pretti being assaulted by federal agents a week before his death — not posing a threat.
Schleicher argued that nothing captured in the video could excuse Pretti being shot multiple times on January 24.
The former federal prosecutor, who played a role in securing Derek Chauvin’s conviction in the George Floyd case, emphasized that prior confrontations cannot legally justify lethal force at a later date.
The Fatal Shooting and Conflicting Claims
Pretti was shot ten times by Border Patrol agents, who claim he was brandishing a legally owned 9mm handgun during a confrontation.
Trump administration officials initially described him as a “domestic terrorist,” citing the presence of the firearm.
However, a newly released government report has complicated that narrative.
The report states there is no evidence Pretti removed the gun from his hip, even after an officer was heard shouting “gun.”
Video circulating online appears to show an agent disarming Pretti moments before he was shot several times in the back — a detail that has intensified public outrage.
Agents Placed on Leave as Pressure Mounts
Two Border Patrol agents involved in the shooting have now been placed on administrative leave, Homeland Security sources confirmed.
The agents, whose identities have not been released, were automatically suspended as standard procedure and provided with mental health support.
When they return to duty, they are expected to be assigned desk roles rather than field work while the investigation continues.
Public Opinion Turns Sharply Critical
Pretti’s death came just weeks after another fatal ICE-related shooting, further fueling anger nationwide.
A recent Daily Mail/JL Partners poll found that 54 percent of Americans believe federal law enforcement murdered Pretti.
Even among Republicans, skepticism is growing.
Twenty-two percent said the killing amounted to murder, while only 21 percent of all respondents believed the shooting was justified.
What Happens From Here?
As investigators continue reviewing video evidence and witness accounts, the case is shaping up to be another defining moment in the national debate over immigration enforcement, police accountability, and the use of lethal force.
With public trust eroding and political pressure building, the outcome of the DHS investigation could have implications far beyond Minneapolis — and may influence how future confrontations between protesters and federal agents are handled.
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