ICE Minneapolis: DHS Investigates Killings by ICE & CBP

Minneapolis – Teh Justice Department announced tuesday it will not open a civil rights inquiry into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday, a move that departs from standard practice and raises concerns about accountability for federal agents.

Federal Probe Sidestepped in Minneapolis shooting

The decision not to investigate the shooting of Alex Pretti follows a similar move in another recent case involving a federal agent, fueling criticism of the Trump management’s handling of use-of-force incidents.

• The Justice Department will not pursue civil rights charges in the shooting death of Alex Pretti.
• The investigation will be handled internally by Customs and Border protection.
• Federal authorities are also investigating whether Pretti committed any crimes.
• This decision follows a similar outcome in the case of Renee Good,shot by an ICE agent earlier this month.

The decision, reported by MS NOW, comes after Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend. Rather of a civil rights investigation, the shooting will be investigated internally by Customs and Border Protection, Pretti’s killer’s parent agency, to determine if agency policy was violated.

Adding another layer to the situation,Homeland Security Investigations (HSI),a division of ICE,is reportedly investigating whether Pretti himself committed any crimes.

A Pattern of Limited Accountability

This decision echoes a similar outcome earlier this month, when the Justice department quashed a civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent, Jonathan Ross. In that case, top DOJ officials reportedly focused on investigating Good’s widow, a move that prompted at least 10 DOJ prosecutors to resign in protest.

Did you know? Since last summer, there have been 16 shootings by federal immigration agents, and none have resulted in criminal charges against the agents or known disciplinary measures.

What is the context of these investigations? The Trump administration has faced increasing scrutiny over its handling of shootings involving federal immigration agents.

The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death are particularly disturbing. Video footage shows federal agents beating Pretti to his knees before firing at least 10 shots within seconds. He was attempting to protect a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by the same agents moments earlier.

The lack of accountability in these cases raises serious questions about the administration’s commitment to protecting civil rights and ensuring responsible use of force by federal agents.

pro tip: Internal investigations by an agency’s parent organization are often criticized for lacking impartiality and openness.

Given the administration’s track record,observers say there is little reason to expect accountability in Pretti’s death.

Reader question: How does the Justice Department’s decision in these cases impact public trust in federal law enforcement?