Washington — A tense Senate hearing erupted this week after lawmakers were shown graphic video footage of the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, intensifying scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration tactics.

The hearing, convened by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, featured testimony from senior officials representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Senators from both parties questioned the use of force after reviewing body-camera and bystander video capturing the January 24 incident.

Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot during a confrontation that unfolded amid broader immigration raids in Minnesota. Video evidence examined by lawmakers appeared to show Pretti retreating or attempting to assist others moments before he was subdued and shot, prompting allegations that the force used may have been excessive.

Senator Rand Paul, who led portions of the questioning, paused the footage repeatedly to challenge officials’ accounts and warned that public trust in federal immigration agencies had eroded. Democratic senators echoed those concerns, demanding accountability, policy reforms, and greater transparency regarding enforcement protocols.

Administration officials defended the agents’ actions, maintaining that officers believed Pretti posed a threat and acted in self-defense during a rapidly evolving confrontation. However, agency leaders acknowledged that the incident remains under active investigation, with internal reviews and federal probes ongoing.

The case has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate, especially following other fatal encounters tied to enforcement operations. Lawmakers pressed officials on training standards, rules governing use of force, and expansion plans that could add thousands of new immigration agents nationwide.

Outside Washington, the shooting has fueled protests and calls for independent oversight, while civil liberties groups argue the incident reflects systemic problems in federal enforcement strategy.

As multiple investigations continue, the Senate signaled that further hearings are likely, underscoring the political and legal stakes surrounding one of the most controversial immigration-related shootings in recent months.