Two immigration officers involved in the fatal shooting of a protester in Minneapolis have been placed on leave, according to U.S. officials. This development comes as President Donald Trump faces mounting criticism over the incident.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, was shot multiple times on Saturday. The deadly altercation occurred after camouflaged border patrol officers forced him to the ground, an event that was captured on video.

The death of Pretti has intensified national outrage, particularly as it follows the earlier shooting of a female protester by an immigration officer in January, drawing bipartisan condemnation across the country.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed on Wednesday that two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave. “This is standard protocol,” the spokesperson stated.

An initial review of the incident did not mention Pretti wielding a firearm, contradicting early statements from Trump administration officials that emphasized the presence of a weapon.

It comes as an initial review of the deadly shooting made no mention of Pretti brandishing a firearm, despite initial statements by Trump officials highlighting the weapon.

In the hours after Pretti was killed, top Trump administration officials portrayed the nurse as an aggressor, assertions that were quickly contradicted by video from the scene.

US homeland security wrote on X he “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun”, but did not mention that the weapon was holstered.

Stephen Miller — a powerful figure who leads Trump’s hard-line immigration policy — called Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and “would-be assassin” without presenting evidence to support the claims.

The White House later said Miller was referring to “general guidance” to immigration agents operating in Minnesota, not the specific incident involving Pretti.

Trump has called for an “honourable and honest investigation” into Pretti’s death and suggested he would “de-escalate a little bit” the administration’s immigration crackdown in the city in the northern state of Minnesota.

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