Within hours of a Border Patrol agent's killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday, Minnesota officials launched a series of extraordinary legal maneuvers to stake local authorities' claim to investigate the shooting.

Why it matters: The moves are meant to counter what state officials and legal experts framed as unprecedented obstruction by federal authorities surrounding a shooting investigation that — under most circumstances — would involve state and local authorities.

• "This is uncharted territory," Attorney General Keith Ellison told reporters yesterday.
• "Closing the crime scene, sweeping away the evidence, defying a court order and not allowing anyone to look at it ... This is an inflection point in America," added Gov. Tim Walz.

Context: The moves appear geared toward avoiding a repeat of the aftermath of an ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7.

• In that case, state investigators pledged a joint investigation with the FBI — only for the U.S. Attorney's Office to kick them off the probe a day later.

State of play: A U.S. District Court judge will hold a hearing this afternoon after Minnesota officials sued in federal court to "vindicate their right to access evidence" in the Pretti shooting case.

• The judge issued an order yesterday temporarily barring the FBI and Department of Homeland Security from "destroying or altering evidence."
• In the hours after Pretti's shooting, state investigators obtained a search warrant from a Hennepin County judge to access the scene of Pretti's death — an "unusual" move, they noted in a federal court filing — but federal agents refused to honor it.

Between the lines: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents routinely investigate police shootings — including those involving federal officers.

• Federal agents do not enjoy "absolute immunity" from state laws, as some Trump administration officials have previously claimed — though any attempt to charge them in state court wouldn't be straightforward.

What they're saying: "This reeks of a cover-up by [federal] officials who don't want an independent investigation," University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran told Axios in an email.

The other side: Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios that any claim the government would destroy evidence is "a ridiculous attempt to divide the American people."

What we're watching: Ellison also noted he will be in federal court this morning defending yet another lawsuit the state filed to end the federal immigration surge.

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Pressure is mounting for the Trump administration to scale back its immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Why it matters: Recent polling has already shown that ICE's tactics are losing public support.

• Now even some of the administration's traditional allies are expressing reservations.

👀 Some leading Republicans, including House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, are demanding a thorough investigation into the shooting, a warning that backlash is brewing to Trump's heavy-handed approach.

⚖️ Gun rights supporters pushed back against statements from DHS and FBI Director Kash Patel suggesting agents were justified in shooting Pretti, a lawful firearm owner, because he had a concealed weapon at a protest.

• Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus president Rob Doar told Axios that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's understanding of state gun laws is "fundamentally wrong."

💼 A group of more than 60 Minnesota CEOs — including leaders of Target, Best Buy, 3M, General Mills and United Healthcare — issued a letter calling for federal and state cooperation to ease tensions.

• While the milquetoast statement is unlikely to appease local employees and activists, it does signal a potential linchpin moment for the return of corporate activism.

🏛️ The odds of a partial federal government shutdown this week dramatically increased after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to block a key funding bill if DHS funding is included.

• A push to impeach Noem is also gaining support among minority House Democrats.

The other side: Top Trump officials doubled down on their unsubstantiated claims that Pretti "was there to perpetuate violence" and that his actions equated to "domestic terrorism."

• "The suspect put himself in that situation," Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino said on CNN. "The victims are the Border Patrol agents there."

Yes, but: White House sources acknowledged to Axios that the shooting response is damaging its credibility, even with allies.

• "We're getting it from all sides," a Trump adviser said yesterday.

President Trump and his deputies ramped up their calls for Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to work more closely with ICE, though their demands for ending the surge go beyond immigration enforcement.

Driving the news: Trump posted to Truth Social yesterday, saying the two leaders, along with "EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor," should "formally cooperate ... rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos and Violence."

• The post came a day after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent Walz a letter outlining actions she said were needed to "restore the rule of law, support ICE officers, and bring an end to the chaos."

Zoom in: Their main ask is for state and local law enforcement to do more to assist ICE in apprehending undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

• That includes turning over people in custody, helping federal agents track down and detain those who have been convicted of crimes, and toning down what the administration sees as "anti-ICE rhetoric."
• Bondi's letter also calls on the state to turn over Medicaid, SNAP and voter roll data to aid the federal government in its fraud investigations.

State of play: While some jurisdictions in the Twin do prohibit law enforcement from cooperating with ICE in most cases, Minnesota's Department of Corrections says it honors requests to coordinate the release of undocumented immigrants in state custody.

• Walz does not have the authority to force county jails to honor those detainer requests, a lawyer for the Minnesota Sheriff's Association told the Star Tribune.

The response: Walz called Bondi's letter a "red herring" based on "falsehoods" and said it was "not a serious attempt" at a resolution.

• "It's their job to do immigration and customs enforcement; it's law enforcement's job to do law enforcement," he said.

He dismissed the administration's requests for data, saying the state's fraud response is already underway and that the voter request is "unrelated" to the issue at hand.

Tense clashes between protesters and law enforcement in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's shooting gave way by that evening to solemn vigils as residents gathered in parks and on street corners in the frigid cold to light the night with candles.

• Demonstrations continued Sunday, as Minnesotans flocked to highway overpasses and sidewalks with signs urging ICE to leave.
• The Timberwolves and Frost honored Pretti with a moment of silence before their respective games yesterday.

Why it matters: The largely peaceful protests over ICE's actions are attracting accolades from across the nation.

What they're saying: "Every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country," former President Obama wrote on X.

• At a Boston rally Saturday night, protestors in frigid temperatures chanted, "We're not cold, we're not afraid! [Minneapolis] taught us to be brave!"

"If it was the intention of Donald Trump to make an example of Minnesota, then I'm damn proud of the example that the world is seeing," Walz said yesterday.

The other side: Top Trump officials and some other Republicans have repeatedly blamed observers and protesters for raising local tensions and impeding ICE's operations.

• "This level of engineered chaos is unique to Minneapolis," Vice President JD Vance said on X. "It is the direct consequence of far left agitators, working with local authorities."

📸 Vigil photos via the @AxiosTwinCities Instagram

Alex Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, issued a statement Saturday remembering their son as a "kindhearted soul" who cared deeply for his family, friends and the veterans he helped as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Hospital.

"Alex wanted to make a difference in this world," they wrote. "Unfortunately, he will not be here with us to see his impact."

They rejected the "sickening lies" administration officials told about their son as "reprehensible and disgusting," noting that his final act was to protect a woman while being pepper sprayed.

• "Please get the truth out about our son," the statement read. "He was a good man."

Worthy of your time: A viral December 2024 video taken at the VA shows Pretti saluting deceased veteran Terry Randolph one last time.

• "He was as compassionate a person as you could be," Randolph's son told the Star Tribune.