Reps. Judy Chu, Brad Sherman and Laura Friedman held a press conference criticizing DHS on Jan. 28. (photo courtesy of the office of Laura Friedman)

Local officials responded to the Minneapolis killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents during a Jan. 28 press conference in Pan Pacific Park, led by Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who appeared alongside Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena). At the event, the trio called for impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and reduced funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“On top of killing two Americans, federal agents there have escalated peaceful situations, assaulted peaceful protesters, obstructed Minnesota’s investigation, even appealing a judge’s order that they preserve evidence,” Friedman said. “Think about that. They’re desperate to destroy evidence in these killings, even so far as to appeal a judge’s ruling that they preserve evidence. How can we have justice? And they’ve threatened American citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights.”

Friedman said that federal agents had attempted to intimidate people filming with their cell phones during an operation in Pan Pacific Park days earlier.

“Those are direct threats against American citizens simply exercising their constitutional rights. DHS leadership, including Secretary Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino have consistently lied about these killings. They have smeared the victims and their families and gone out of their way of labeling them domestic terrorists,” Friedman said.

Pretti’s death has received widespread condemnation from Democratic leaders, as well as several prominent Republicans. The Trump administration, however, has placed blame on Pretti, citing a handgun he appeared to have holstered to his waist at the time of the Jan. 24 killing. The altercation, which happened on the streets of Minneapolis, was captured on multiple bystanders’ videos. The footage shows Pretti recording ICE agents with his cell phone and then shielding another bystander as both are pepper-sprayed. Pretti is forced to the ground and surrounded by agents. It then appears that one officer removes Pretti’s handgun from its holster. Two agents, who have not been identified, shot at Pretti several times.

“You can’t have guns,” President Donald Trump said on Jan. 27 in a stance that broke with the National Rifle Association, which typically backs Republican politicians. “You can’t walk in with guns. You can’t do that.”

Pretti’s death follows another high-profile killing by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. On Jan. 7, Renee Nicole Good was shot by agent Jonathan Ross as Good attempted to drive away from the agent in a situation that was, likewise, captured on cell phone videos. Noem said that she was trying to run over Ross. Homeland Security also placed blame on Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

“In an act of domestic terrorism, an anti-ICE rioter weaponized her vehicle against law enforcement,” the department posted on X on Jan. 7. “Our officer relied on his training and saved his own life, as well as the lives of his fellow officers. Sanctuary politicians have created an environment that encourages rampant assaults on law enforcement.”

Homeland Security has taken the lead on both killings, though the state has attempted to take over handling of the investigations.

“Kristi Noem is trying to rig the investigation into these killings so the evidence will not be shared with other law enforcement, but the American people know that Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem and the entire administration are to blame for this despicable violence every single day, as we watch as people are ripped from their cars, dragged out of their homes and torn away from their families that this is state sanctioned terror. ICE has descended into a lawless militia with absolutely no regard for the American people’s safety or the rule of law, and congressional Republicans green lighted this regime,” Friedman said.

Friedman, Sherman and Chu said Noem should be impeached for her handling of DHS, signing on to support articles introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois).

“She has lied to the public. She has lost the public’s trust, because instead of being focused on leading a law enforcement agency, she’s been leading a cover up,” Friedman said. “In fact, just as I was driving over, word came in that the officers responsible for the fatal shooting were put on administrative leave. Now let’s be clear, our attempt to impeach Noem is a serious and real attempt, and that removal of those officers shows that that pressure is paying off.”

Bovino, who was serving as the Border Patrol’s commander of Operation At Large, was reassigned following Pretti’s killing back to overseeing U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Centro, Calif., which was the position he previously held.

“I’m demanding the immediate termination and investigation of Greg Bovino for the operation Metro Surge. He should not be allowed to slink back to California to lead enforcement here. He needs to face accountability,” Friedman said.

The escalated presence of ICE in Minneapolis throughout January has mirrored similar targeted operations in other cities in the United States, including Los Angeles in June and July 2025. An uptick in ICE operations in selected cities in mostly Democratic-led states, dubbed Operation Metro Surge, has sparked widespread protests. Resistance in Minneapolis has been constant in the last few weeks, as the city and state officials have remained defiant as the Trump administration has made several demands of Minnesota, including handing over the state’s voter rolls. Though some media reports indicated that a deescalation was occurring in Minnesota, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted on X on Jan. 28 indicating that the administration remained determined.

“I am on the ground in Minneapolis today,” Bondi wrote. “Federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement – people who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents. We expect more arrests to come. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.”

Noem also posted a series of pictures of “criminal” undocumented immigrants that she credited DHS with detaining.

“[The budget] more than double[s] the number of ICE agents,” Chu said. “And actually, the ICE budget is larger than most of our nation’s law enforcement agencies combined. They gave ICE the power, the money, the impunity and this is the result. Regardless of whether you’re an immigrant, a U.S. citizen, or are simply exercising your First Amendment rights, no one is safe in Trump’s America. So that’s why we’re here today to stop this injustice that is occurring from Minneapolis to Chicago to right here in Los Angeles. We must stop this violence, and we must stop it now.”

Friedman called for pulling the funding for DHS, which currently hangs in the balance in the United State Senate after narrowly passing in the House of Representatives. In order for the budget to be passed, 60 votes are necessary in the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-seat majority, so seven senators that caucus with the Democrats are required to pass DHS funding, which is set to receive more than $168 billion. If the budget does not pass, the government will likely shut down this weekend.

“The Senate has the bills that can keep the government open, but the Senate, thank God, will not pass a bill that provides unrestricted money to ICE,” Sherman said. “I call upon the Republicans in the Senate to take the ICE out of that bill and to keep government open. We’d be ready to pass the other appropriations bills, but I don’t think Democrats in the Senate or the House are inclined to fund this out of control agency.”

Friedman has also led other bills meant to target the surge in ICE operations, including the No Masks for ICE Act. The Senate is debating the details of the budget reconciliation bills this week. On Jan. 26, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) spoke on the conditions of the ICE detention facilities.

“Last week, I saw firsthand in California City the appalling, inhumane conditions that detained individuals are facing at for-profit facilities as detentions reach record levels. I met with countless people who were injured while being detained or whose basic medical needs are not being met – including a mother who was denied access to her medication to manage her diabetes and received no treatment after ICE grabbed her by the neck,” Padilla said. “As Republicans funnel tens of billions to ICE and CBP, we need to bring back oversight and accountability to the federal detention system, while restoring the right to legal counsel and due process, ending family detention and raising detention standards. Our bill would finally stop private, for-profit detention centers from lining their pockets by advancing Donald Trump’s cruel mass deportation campaign at the expense of our communities and economy.”

Sherman encouraged protestors to remain peaceful as they push back against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

“Make sure not to take the bait,” he said. “Protesters in Minneapolis were legal, peaceful, and the mayor and governor have called on them to protest in that matter.”