A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from destroying evidence in the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident during a federal immigration enforcement operation.

Court Orders Evidence Preservation

Judge Eric Tostrud granted the emergency order after the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed suit to preserve evidence in the shooting death of Alex Pretti. The 37-year-old Veterans Affairs ICU nurse was killed by a Border Patrol agent during Operation Metro Surge enforcement activities in south Minneapolis. Federal officials and those acting on their behalf cannot destroy evidence from the scene or materials in their custody that state authorities say they were previously prevented from examining.

Todd Blanche: "Obviously we're not destroying evidence" pic.twitter.com/la1kKgsAue

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 26, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security maintains that Pretti approached Border Patrol agents armed with a 9mm pistol and “violently resisted” when they attempted to disarm him. Despite immediate medical attention, Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene. The lawsuit names DHS, ICE, CBP, Border Patrol, and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants.

State Officials Demand Transparency

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty emphasized her office’s jurisdiction to review potential criminal conduct by federal agents involved in the incident. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that federal agents are not above the law and demanded a full, impartial investigation. Judge Tostrud scheduled a Monday hearing to review the restraining order, as state officials push for access to federal evidence.

Federal Response and Next Steps

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin dismissed claims about evidence destruction as attempts to divide Americans and distract from attacks on law enforcement officers. She stated DHS is actively investigating the officer-involved shooting and welcomes Minnesota’s help in arresting criminal aliens. The federal government leads the investigation while state officials pursue their own review. This case highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement operations and state oversight responsibilities in officer-involved shootings.