Alex Jeffery Pretti was doing what he did best – helping people – when he was killed by ICE agents in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
Alex was an intensive-care nurse and an observer
recording the activities of the Department of Homeland
Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement
agents. Reliable reports indicate Alex did have a weapon
– and was licensed to carry one – but that weapon was
taken from him before he was murdered.
The Benzie Dems condemn the actions of the U.S.
Government to attack and now kill citizens who were
doing nothing more than trying to get out of the way – in
the case of Renee Good — or helping others, as Alex
was doing for a woman who was sprayed in the face with a chemical by an ICE agent; or out enjoying New Years Eve, as Keith Porter was, in Los Angeles, when an off-duty ICE agent shot him.
We are disgusted and saddened that our own
government is turning against its citizens.
We want accountability for those who killed Renee, Alex,
Keith, and the people who died while being detained by
ICE. We want the so-called “detention centers” closed
and the people held in them returned to their families.
Many of these people were not convicted of crimes.
These indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians,
including people of color and peaceful protesters, must
stop.
The Benzie Dems believe that peaceful protests are
crucial, a fundamental right of all, and must never be
interfered with. We and millions of people across the
country will continue to exercise that right.
We will continue to deal with the darkness threatening all
of us with a flood of light—our light, our love, as caring and determined human beings. We will mourn with the families of Alex, Renee, and the other victims, and we will stand with good people everywhere in solidarity against the crimes of ICE and the administration.
It will take some time, but we will not relent and we will
prevail.
We shall overcome.
