Two federal immigration agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, have been identified as longtime Customs and Border Protection officers, according to a ProPublica report.
Who the Agents Are
Government records name Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, as the officers who fired on Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Both agents are based in Texas and were deployed to Minnesota as part of “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale federal enforcement effort tied to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Customs and Border Protection has not publicly released their names and confirmed both agents were placed on administrative leave following the shooting.
Federal Response and Pushback
The Department of Homeland Security said it will not confirm or deny identities, citing safety concerns and warning that publicizing officers’ names could put them and their families at risk. The incident remains under investigation.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, have criticized the lack of transparency, arguing federal agents involved in fatal encounters with civilians should be identifiable and held to clear rules of engagement.
Details From the Preliminary Review
A preliminary federal review sent to Congress outlines a confrontation that escalated after officers ordered protesters out of the roadway. The report says Pretti was pepper-sprayed during a struggle and shot moments after an agent shouted that he had a gun. The review does not state that Pretti brandished a weapon, contradicting earlier claims from DHS officials.
Pretti was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead roughly 30 minutes later.
Protests and Ongoing Investigation
Pretti’s killing, along with the recent death of another Minneapolis resident during a separate federal encounter, has sparked mass protests locally and nationwide. Following public pressure, the Justice Department confirmed its civil division, led by the FBI, has opened an investigation into Pretti’s death.
For more on immigration enforcement, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.