1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent of Kansas to express my deep concern and outrage over the recent fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and longtime community member in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who was killed by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation on January 24, 2026.  The circumstances surrounding Mr. Pretti’s death raise serious questions about the conduct, oversight, and accountability of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal enforcement bodies. Numerous eyewitness accounts and footage indicate that Mr. Pretti was unarmed and attempting to document and de-escalate during a tense situation when he was pepper-sprayed, pinned to the ground, and fatally shot by agents.  This is not an isolated incident. It comes amid a pattern of aggressive federal immigration operations that have resulted in the fatal shooting of multiple individuals, including another Minnesota resident just weeks earlier. The perception — and for many, the reality — is that federal immigration enforcement is operating without adequate restraint, accountability, or respect for the rights and lives of U.S. residents.  Silence is compliance. As my elected representative in the U.S. Senate, your response matters. I urge you to take immediate and substantive action to: 1. Call for a transparent, independent investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, with full cooperation between federal and state law enforcement and civilian review bodies. 2. Support safeguards and legislative reforms to ensure that federal immigration enforcement officers are held to the highest standards of accountability, de-escalation training, and civil rights protections. 3. Champion oversight and restrictions on the use of federal immigration enforcement operations in states and cities that do not want those agencies deployed without local authorization and consent. 4. Oppose further funding increases for ICE and DHS until concrete reforms are enacted that limit militarized tactics and ensure the safety and constitutional rights of all residents. The death of an American citizen who devoted his life to caring for others is a national tragedy. We must demand justice for Mr. Pretti and meaningful changes that prevent this kind of fatal use of force from happening again. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response outlining the steps you will take to address these critical concerns.