Weekly Brief Jan. 26: Domestic Militarization Watch 

January 26, 2026

🚨Federal Agents Shoot and Kill Another U.S. Citizen in Minneapolis

• A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident was shot and killed by a border patrol agent, the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis since ICE’s ongoing “Operation Metro Surge” started in December. (Yahoo News Canada, 24 Jan. 2026)
• Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, protesters were met with immigration officers wielding batons and deploying flash bangs, leading Gov. Tim Walz to activate the Minnesota National Guard to both the shooting site and to a federal building where officials have squared off with protesters daily. (Minn Post/AP News, 24 Jan. 2026).

🪖Local Officials Respond as Minnesota National Guard is Activated 

• The deployment comes at the request of local officials including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, out of an abundance of caution and to help “reinforce local law enforcement resources” that have been stretched thin because of the disruption to public safety caused by the thousands of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. 
• The Minnesota Guard personnel will be available to help local police and emergency personnel protect community safety around the area and members will wear neon reflective vests to help distinguish them from other agencies, as the federal government has no involvement in their activities (City of Minneapolis, 24 Jan. 2026).
• Additionally, a Minnesota judge has granted the temporary restraining order sought by local officials to prevent the Trump administration from destroying any evidence related to Saturday’s fatal shooting. (CBS Minnesota, 25 Jan. 2026).

⚖️Trump Appealing Order Restricting ICE Response in Minnesota

• The Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, Jan. 19th in response to a recent judge’s decision that temporarily bars federal immigration agents from arresting lawful protesters and observers documenting immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. (ABC News, 19 Jan. 2026).