Fox News sources say DHS morale has hit a "catastrophic" low after Alex Pretti, 37, was fatally shot by a masked federal agent during Minneapolis protests over ICE raids. DHS officials have characterized the shooting as self-defense and labeled Pretti a threat, while his family and widely shared video footage dispute that portrayal. Internal sources told reporters that the department's public messaging has eroded trust and harmed morale. Officials also warn that confusion between ICE and Border Patrol actions has intensified internal friction as investigations continue.
DHS Morale Plummets After ICU Nurse Is Fatally Shot — Officials Clash Over Public Narrative
Al Drago / Getty Images(Al Drago)
Sources inside the Department of Homeland Security say internal morale has sunk to a "catastrophic" low after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, by a masked federal agent during a Minneapolis protest over ICE raids.
Pretti was shot during demonstrations in Minneapolis; the incident followed a separate fatality in the area earlier in January. Federal and DHS officials have described the shooting as an act of self-defense, saying the agent believed Pretti was armed and posed a threat. Pretti's family and several published videos, however, have disputed that characterization and say the footage does not show him using force against officers.
Pretti's killing by a Border Patrol agent led to further protests in Minneapolis. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images
Officials Say Messaging Has Damaged Trust
In a social-media post, a Fox News congressional correspondent reported he spoke to multiple immigration-enforcement officials, including senior leaders, who expressed frustration with how the department has publicly framed the incident. Sources said that statements labeling Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and suggesting he intended to inflict "maximum damage" have not aligned with video evidence and have worsened internal morale and public relations.
"This messaging from DHS officials has been catastrophic from a PR and morale perspective, as it is eroding trust and credibility," one source said.
Agency Confusion and Accountability Questions
Sources also complained that ICE has been publicly associated with actions carried out by other DHS components, such as Border Patrol, which is a separate agency with different operational roles. That confusion, officials say, has intensified internal tensions about leadership, communications and accountability.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed Pretti
DHS provided a statement characterizing the incident as a violent, coordinated attack on law-enforcement personnel and said it seeks to provide "swift, accurate information to the American people as more information becomes available."
Political Reaction
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social blaming Democrats for failing to cooperate with enforcement efforts in Minnesota and said the administration will review the incident. He also shared an image that was described in some reporting as a weapon allegedly connected to Pretti. The president said investigators would review video and other evidence before making a determination.
Demonstrators in Chicago gather during a heavy snowstorm to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images
Disputed Facts and Ongoing Review
Pretti's family has publicly challenged the department's account. Several videos that circulated after the shooting prompted questions about the official narrative, and officials on all sides have urged patience while investigations continue.
Note on reporting: Some versions of the story circulating online misidentified public figures or their roles. For example, Kristi Noem is Governor of South Dakota and is not the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. This article attributes quotes and claims to the agencies and sources that made them.
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